Senators approved the bill “That establishes administrative measures for the financing of the sickness and maternity program of the Social Welfare Institute”, last Thursday.
This project authorizes the IPS to request the National Development Bank (BNF), or other entities of the national financial system and/or international financial entities, the opening of medium and long-term credit lines, which will be used to fulfill the obligations still to be paid.
Legislators discussed the possibility of the IPS using the retirement funds as guarantees for the loans that it will request to pay the debt with pharmaceutical companies that amounts to US$ 258 million.
Abdo Benítez, national president, affirmed in this regard that the lack of medicines is a historical issue, but stressed that they have improved a lot in terms of supply in recent years.
“There are always going to be debts. This law approved in the Senate will be a tool for us to catch up. No Guarani from IPS retirees will be used here. All that manipulation, the law guarantees that it will not be used. There was already another law and in this law it is made explicit again. I do not understand the manipulation that is done, ”he said.
