The Association of Oncological Patients of the Social Security Institute (Apodips) has issued an open letter to IPS President Dr. Isaías Ricardo Fretes, demanding the declaration of an institutional health emergency. According to Última Hora, the group argues that structural, administrative, and care-related deficiencies are endangering thousands of insured patients who rely on the institute for medical attention, treatments, and medications.
The letter highlights critical delays or lack of supply for basic medicines, oncological drugs, and treatments for chronic conditions, which the association says jeopardize therapeutic continuity and patients' lives. Apodips also criticizes the centralization of IPS services in the capital, Asunción, as a factor worsening access problems.
Among the specific grievances are prolonged waiting lists, a shortage of medical appointments, insufficient specialists, and services that fail to keep pace with rising demand. The group calls for a comprehensive and transparent audit of medicine purchases and debts owed to pharmaceutical companies, as well as an organizational overhaul of IPS with special attention to its administrative area. It further demands the resignation of the institute's board members, asserting that the current crisis requires deep leadership changes.
The request coincides with a political development: on Tuesday, the Chamber of Deputies gave preliminary approval to a bill declaring an emergency at the social security institute. The proposal now moves to the Senate for consideration. Apodips has listed urgent measures including increasing appointment slots, modernizing the consultation system, and hiring more doctors, nurses, and specialized personnel.