Keough 1

Grace Keough

English 3

Mr.Phillips

3 May 2018.

Venezuela’s Healthcare Decline

The world has turned a blind eye to Venezuelan healthcare conditions. Lack of proper

healthcare is currently leading to large and growing infection and mortality rates. Hospitals are

lacking supplies, medications, food, water and even a proper and clean beds for patients.The

deficits of these necessities is just feeding into the rapidly expanding issue. With groundbreaking

healthcare in our own backyard it is hard to think of a lack of such an important resource that is

often taken for granted.

When you think of a hospital or medical center most people typically think of a strong

sterile place that gives you comfort in knowing its clean. This is a comfort Venezuela doesn't

have. When entering one of the many Venezuelan health care centers the first thing that you

would notice is the physical condition of the facility. Photos have emerged of pregnant women

birthing in waiting rooms and sick or injured patients resting on unsanitary blood and disease

ridden floors.

When wondering why nothing was done to correct this issue research showed that there is

up to a ninety percent deficit in not just drugs to treat disease but other medical supplies.

Treatment isn't the only thing needed to control and cure infection, sanitation plays a major role.

Gloves, disinfectants, soap and water all are needed to reach the goal of a clean, healthy and

sterile environment. Currently when researchers traveled to care centers up to “79 percent of
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them had no running water at all” (referring to hospitals) leading infection and malnutrition rates

to climb.

As the condition of the centers worsen so does disease. Spreading of disease is a major

factor in this is a “eighty-five percent shortage” of general medicines. Doctors always want to do

their best for their patients but it’s hard to heal people with no resources. One doctor said she

found herself prescribing a cold shower to a fever patient due to lack of anti fever medicines.

Think of what would happen if there was a lack a medication for a stronger tougher disease.

There is a empty supply of these medications too. Cancer, diabetes and many more affect

many loved ones and we would try anything to save them. Now trying is hard for the patients

who want to fight back. With treatment hard to obtain they are being forced into a difficult

situation. With chemo and radiation already being some of the most expensive treatments out

there. The prices for family members being forced to the black market are now skyrocketing.

Many are unable to provide this chance for their family in the current economic decline.

Many doctors would try and get a paid for plan for their patients but many say they aren’t

even making enough for themselves. Recently it has even been herd of doctors getting eight

dollar a month wages. The inability for doctors to assist families is resulting in death and

suffering of loved ones.

Many other families are suffering as well from losing loved ones. Lady Gomez ,spoke

recently saying “ Three people died on the same day due to power outages two of the deaths

happened at hospital PADRE JUSTO DE RUBIO where a battery failed and the other death

happened in an emergency room.” Not just sick are dying the maternal and youth are suffering

from increasing deaths also.

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Infant and maternal mortality rates are jumping to heights never seen before. They are the

highest rates ever seen in pregnancy related deaths. The maternal rates have risen sixty-six

percent and infant deaths have raised thirty percent. Many say that maternal and infant mortality

rates are a key indicator to population health and stability.

Maternal and infant related deaths along with insufficient conditions are not the only

things taking a toll on Venezuela population. Concern is being generated due to an outbreak in

Diphtheria and Malaria. This generates from a lack of the prevention vaccine . The inability to

control the disease for lack of proper care and treatment after infection just continues to spread.

Malaria cases alone have jumped up seventy-six percent.

More major concern is created when Diphtheria cases come in. The disease was supposed

to be eradicated more than 20 years ago in the country. Also statistics show that malaria is

increasing at an alarming rate estimating that this year alone Venezuela will have 800,000 cases

and over 1 million next year. Many are proclaiming that Venezuela is heading into a

humanitarian crisis.

With rising rates doctors aren’t just concerned for their own country and nationality they

believe that health problems could be exported . Venezuelan doctors are warning others of the

growing risk to come. With only crumbles left of the Venezuelan economy many are persuaded

to move out of the country . Importantly many of these travelers have not had proper

vaccinations to the deathly diseases. With growing rates this means many have been exposed to

relentless disease and could carry it as a host as they try to move on.

Venezuelan health care has been in a consistent decline and something needs to be done.

Proper healthcare in the world doesn’t just affect the people in one country, it affects everyone.

The country is currently not stable enough to support itself and needs help from others.
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Venezuela has been on a downward spiral and doesn’t show signs of stopping. The future and

truth is, without improvements throughout all resources of medical supplies, sanitation and

doctors, the spread of disease and death may continue to rise and become further away from

seeing an end.

Works Cited
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Delgado, Antonio Maria. “Crisis in Venezuelan hospitals: too many patients, too few beds”.

miamihearld.com. 9 Nov. 2017. URL 22 April 2018. Hey cutie

Jones, Julia. “Venezuela's health system is in worse condition than expected, survey finds:”

CNN.com 3 March 2018. URL 22 April 2018.

Raphelson, Samantha. “Venezuela's Healthcare system ready to collapse Amid Economic crisis”

npr.org. 2 Feb. 2018. URL 23 April 2018.

Ulmer, Alexandra. “Venezualen doctors in protest urge stronger stance on healthcare crisis:”.

Reuters.com. 25 Sep. 2017. 23 April 2018.

Watts, Jonathan. “Like doctors in a war: inside Venezuela's Healthcare crisis” thegaurdian.com.

19 Oct. 2017. URL 22 April 2018.