Romina García, a resident of Mariano Roque Alonso, contacted the press on Thursday to report the lack of reagents for tests and medicines in the region's public hospitals. Her 21-year-old daughter suffers from constant seizures and needs specific tests to adjust her medication.
According to García, she arrived at the Mariano Roque Alonso hospital at 4:30 a.m. with her daughter in a wheelchair, but was told that not all tests were available. She also went to the Loma Pytá hospital in Asunción, but was unable to get thyroid and blood glucose tests, as well as other more specific ones. In the private sector, the cost of these tests reaches about 600,000 guaranis.
The mother explained that her daughter has an appointment with a neurologist on May 26 and needs the results to adjust her medication, as the young woman is not sleeping well. The patient takes three types of anticonvulsants, as she has seizures even while sleeping. Just one of the medications costs approximately 600,000 guaranis per month.
At the public hospital, only complete blood count and triglyceride tests are available, and there are no vitamin dosages that the young woman needs. “Many patients left without getting anything, they have to go to the private sector. I don't know what I'm going to do, there are several tests, I have two other children, an 11-year-old girl and an 8-year-old boy,” said García.
She said her partner is a driver and works late, but the money is not enough. To supplement the income, she sells empanadas in the neighborhood, since she cannot work outside due to the need to constantly care for her daughter. Those interested in helping can contact her at (0985) 528-490.