Nayarit hospital faces parenteral nutrition shortage for newborns

A shortage of parenteral nutrition at the Dr. Antonio González Guevara Hospital in Tepic, Nayarit, is endangering the lives of several infants. The facility, which operates under the IMSS-Bienestar system, has faced a lack of this essential intravenous nutrition since August 3.

Neonatologist Rocío Feria Ortuño reported that four newborns in the neonatology unit require the specialized nutrition to prevent severe malnutrition and organ damage, particularly for two infants weighing less than one kilogram. Currently, only one of the four patients is receiving the treatment because their family is paying for it privately.

To mitigate the crisis, medical staff have been using an improvised solution consisting of sugars, salts, and multivitamins. The shortage also affects the pediatric area, where an 11-month-old infant with intestinal tuberculosis is unable to receive necessary nutritional support. While hospital staff were promised a delivery by Friday, August 14, the supply has not yet arrived.