After a series of complaints of alleged improper charges made at the Matilde Hidalgo maternity hospital in Procel, the authorities intervened in that health home.
The Minister of Health, Ximena Garzón, arrived at that maternity; the governor of Guayas, Pablo Arosemena; and even personnel from the Municipal Traffic Agency, the Metropolitan Control Body and the Guayas Intendancy to clear the maternity street, which is full of informal merchants who close the road.
The intervention occurs after alleged charges of up to $ 200 were reported for assigning a stretcher and admitting pregnant women who arrived with labor pains. The irregularities were picked up by the channel Teleamazonas.
Garzón toured the Guasmo maternity to find out what is happening and also assured that there is already a complaint in the Prosecutor’s Office.
Ministry of Health investigates alleged influence peddling in the Guasmo maternity
On March 20, in a statement, the State portfolio reported that it filed a complaint for alleged influence peddling in the Guasmo maternity hospital.
“We are sure that the Prosecutor’s Office will act quickly in the case,” said the MSP, and clarified that they are intervening comprehensively in this health center and carrying out the necessary administrative procedures to remove the personnel involved in acts of corruption.
Minister Garzón learned that when patients arrived at that center, at the door, they were supposedly given a list of medicines and supplies that they had to buy before entering.
The official said that in the pharmacy of the health house there would be everything that was being asked of the patients.
After the tour of the hospital and talking with personnel from various units, Garzón said that there are four identified suspects and that the director of the maternity unit has already reported them to the Prosecutor’s Office.
He confirmed that they will be released from this Monday and that, depending on the type of contract they have, the pertinent actions will be carried out so that they do not return to work in any public hospital.
The investigation will determine how many people were part of this corruption network that, according to her, charged between 5 and 160 dollars for various services.
At the Luis Vernaza hospital, free surgeries are performed for people in poverty and extreme poverty. There is an agreement with the Ministry of Health
Merchants located outside the maternity ward were removed for occupying public roads.
In addition, it was discovered that they allegedly sold medicines that were requested in the maternity.
Until 1:00 p.m., the arrival of a prosecutor was expected to close a bazaar in which medical supplies were found, said Manuel Cucalón, mayor of Guayas. (I)
Source: Eluniverso
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