Doctors Say Venezuela's Health Care in Collapse

[Bacchus4.0]

http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/doctors-venezuelas-health-care-collapse-20798932


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Driving the crisis in health care are the same forces that have left Venezuelans scrambling to find toilet paper, milk and automobile parts. Economists blame government mismanagement and currency controls set by the late President Hugo Chavez for inflation pushing 50 percent annually. The government controls the dollars needed to buy medical supplies and has simply not made enough available.


Doctors not allied with the government say many patients began dying from easily treatable illnesses when Venezuela's downward economic slide accelerated after Chavez's death from cancer in March. Doctors say it's impossible to know how many have died, and the government doesn't keep such numbers, just as it hasn't published health statistics since 2010.

Almost everything needed to mend and heal is in critically short supply: needles, syringes and paraffin used in biopsies to diagnose cancer; drugs to treat it; operating room equipment; X-ray film and imaging paper; blood and the reagents needed so it can be used for transfusions.

Last month, the government suspended organ donations and transplants. At least 70 percent of radiotherapy machines, precisely what Gonzalez will need once her tumor is removed, are now inoperable in a country with 19,000 cancer patients — meaning fewer than 5,000 can be treated, said Dr. Douglas Natera, president of the Venezuelan Medical Federation.

[Nuclear Unicorn]

1. Maybe they just need a better website. We can recommend someone.

[Bacchus4.0]

2. or a better government n/t

s

[SidDithers]

3. Forward the link to Snowden...nt

Sid

[DetlefK]

4. Reminds me of communist Romania 1989.

Shortage after shortage, even though the country had huge amounts of precious metals and oil it could export.

I tiny protest about the eviction of a pastor grew into huge protests against the regime because people were simply fed up with it. And the regime miscalculated: They thought they could calm the unrest with money.

I have the feeling that Maduro will loose the good-will of the venezulean people in a way that money and supplies can't mend.

[Bacchus4.0]

5. I think there will be some sort of autocoup in the near future

Another chavista will take power. They will not willingly allow a non-chavista to become president.

[DetlefK]

7. Maduro a scape-goat?

I don't remember: Wasn't he handpicked by Santa Chavez as his successor?

[Bacchus4.0]

9. yes, of course. Someone who Cuba can easily control.

However, if the situation worsens much, and it looks bad, Maduro may "resign". Diosdado Cabello who heads the parliament is likely to take over. He is a military guy like Chavez who also participated with Chavez in the 92 coup.

[RZM]

6. Romania did export a lot of stuff in the 80s

Problem was Ceaucescu used the proceeds to pay off foreign creditors, so the people were left in the lurch.

[snooper2]

8. But But But, Viva la Chavez!!!

LOL,

not working out so good eh?

[Bacchus4.0]

10. yep, this is Chavismo n/t

[NoOneMan]

11. He clearly can't rule competently from the grave

[Bacchus4.0]

12. They are his policies in place and Maduro will not deviate from them

Maduro will not undo any of Chavez's policies and programs no matter how detrimental. Calling himself the son of Chavez and wearing a track suit, he still pretends that he is channeling Chavez. No matter the consequences of those horrible polices as this article demonstrates.

[Cali_Democrat]

13. This is Obama's fault

somehow.