Dr. Isaías Fretes, who took over as president of the Social Security Institute (IPS) less than a month ago, has uncovered a series of administrative failures, including long-neglected equipment in the hospital's laundry area. During a visit prompted by an anonymous tip, Fretes found that a planchadora (ironing machine) had been broken for nearly four years, and two of the five washing machines were also out of service.
“No one ever gave a damn, no one ever cared. What happened? Why so much neglect?” Fretes said in an interview with ABC Cardinal on Friday. He stressed the importance of transparency, noting that workers and employers who fund the IPS deserve to know how their contributions are managed.
Fretes also reported that a bathroom renovation project in the same area had been abandoned by the contractor without explanation. He pledged to contact those responsible and enforce the contract.
The IPS faces a monthly deficit of between $20 million and $26 million, according to Fretes. To address this, he recently announced the removal of nearly 1,000 medications from the formulary after discovering they were being purchased but not used. He also plans to explore leasing options for equipment and technology to free up funds for direct medical care.
Despite the challenges, Fretes highlighted a success story: the hospital's fetal surgery team performed its 20th intrauterine procedure to correct a congenital malformation. He described the team as “unique in the country and one of only two in Latin America,” noting that each surgery costs between $170,000 and $200,000.