Caja Nacional de Salud corruption investigations

Investigations have been launched into the Caja Nacional de Salud (CNS) in Bolivia regarding allegations of corruption and illicit enrichment.

Initially, Bolivian Vice President Edmand Lara called for the dismissal and criminal investigation of CNS General Manager Walter Germán Hoyos. A criminal complaint alleged that Hoyos reported only 1,063 bolivianos in his asset declaration while possessing bank accounts exceeding 7.3 million bolivianos. Concurrently, the Public Ministry intervened in CNS offices to seize documents and equipment to investigate potential irregularities in a procurement process for medical tomographs involving a private company.

Following these developments, authorities arrested Margoth Arana A., a former official on the CNS procurement commission, in connection with the ‘Tomógrafos case’. She faces investigation for alleged crimes including detrimental contracts to the State and breach of duties regarding a procurement process valued at approximately Bs 43 million.

In response to the enrichment allegations, General Manager Walter Hoyos demanded a formal retraction from Deputy Rolando Pacheco. Hoyos claimed Pacheco presented false evidence regarding a non-existent bank account containing Bs 7.3 million, asserting his actual balance is approximately Bs 8,900.