Veracruz hospital staff protest critical medical supply shortages

Medical staff at the Hospital de Alta Especialidad de Veracruz (HAEV) have protested a critical shortage of essential supplies, including gloves, gauze, and medications. Residents reported that the lack of resources has forced the suspension of surgical procedures, leaving patients in significant pain while awaiting care.

During a meeting with protesting residents, Roberto Ramos Alor, the state coordinator for IMSS-Bienestar, reportedly told medical staff, “if you don’t want to operate, then don’t operate,” while suggesting that their academic evaluations could be affected by their stance. Medical staff countered by requesting official communications to inform patients of delays, rather than leaving the burden of explanation to the on-duty teams.

In response to the unrest, IMSS-Bienestar announced an extraordinary delivery of over 4 million pieces of medical supplies and 678 different types of items to Veracruz via its ‘Rutas de la Salud’ program. The institution stated these supplies are currently being distributed to medical units and pledged to hold working meetings with medical personnel to address their concerns.