Julieta Castellanos identifies administrative failures in Honduras health crisis

Julieta Castellanos, former rector of the National Autonomous University of Honduras (UNAH), has attributed the ongoing health system crisis in Honduras to administrative deficiencies and political patronage rather than just a lack of resources.

Speaking on the program +Conscientes, Castellanos highlighted critical issues including inaccurate data regarding medication consumption, which leads to improper purchasing, expired products, and supply shortages. She noted that many hospitals lack adequate storage facilities for medicines. She cited an example where repairing oxygen production equipment at Hospital Escuela reduced external purchasing costs from over 15 million to approximately 2 million lempiras annually.

Furthermore, Castellanos criticized the practice of political hiring, noting that deputies and intermediaries frequently request positions for political recommendations. These institutional problems persist alongside ongoing medical assemblies regarding salaries and working conditions, which continue to impact patient care in hospitals and health centers.