The Board of Directors of the Instituto de Previsión Social (IPS) discussed on Monday morning the creation of a private godparent sponsorship system for the institution's shelters, aiming to improve the conditions considered precarious and inhumane in these spaces designated for the families of hospitalized patients.
The proposal was presented by board member Mirtha Arias, the representative of IPS worker contributors, and received unanimous support from the Board, chaired by Isaías Fretes. The idea is to establish partnerships with private companies that currently have contracts with the institution, inviting them to act as sponsors of the shelters through social responsibility agreements, without this implying irregular commercial deals.
"There are too many companies working here that are constantly using IPS resources; they are making a lot of money from the institution. I would propose having a godparent sponsorship for the shelters and starting it as a pilot plan," Mirtha Arias said during the session.
The IPS shelters, mainly located at the Central Hospital and other institutional centers, have long been the subject of complaints from beneficiaries. Reports highlight a lack of hygiene, absence of basic furniture, overcrowding, and conditions deemed inhumane. The IPS president acknowledged the seriousness of the situation and advocated for a "more dignified, more humane, and more sensitive" approach to families.
Fretes emphasized that while godparent sponsorship offers an immediate solution, the underlying challenge is to ensure these needs are included in the institutional budget for 2027. "We need to budget for next year so that families have a more dignified place. Improvisation has meant they have not been in adequate conditions," he said.
The pilot plan will be implemented after the proposal is shared with the IPS pharmaceutical and supplier chambers.
Background: Inpatients at IPS healthcare facilities need someone to accompany them to obtain food and medication, as these are not provided by the hospitals in practice.