Honduras government faces scrutiny over high costs for private surgical pilot

The Honduran government's pilot program to reduce surgical backlogs in public hospitals is facing criticism due to significant cost disparities. Between March and July 2024, the state disbursed 26.2 million lempiras to five private medical centers to cover 405 procedures.

Data from the Institute for Access to Public Information (IAIP) reveals that the average cost per invoice is 64,919 lempiras. Critics, including Deputy and physician Carlos Umaña, suggest the state is paying approximately 50% more than market rates. For instance, while the government pays high averages for gallbladder removals (cholecystectomies), private facilities in Yoro and Siguatepeque offer the same procedure for between 19,000 and 25,000 lempiras.

Funding for these private contracts originated from Casa Presidencial. The highest concentration of spending occurred in the department of Francisco Morazán, followed by Atlántida and Cortés. Centro Médico Lancetilla in Tela, Atlántida, received the largest portion of the funds, totaling over 7.7 million lempiras. If the current average cost is applied to the remaining 10,000 patients on waiting lists, the total expenditure could reach 650 million lempiras.