Health sector executives in Matanzas announced this Friday a set of urgent measures to maintain medical assistance amid the energy emergency and fuel shortage, with adjustments affecting personnel transportation, outpatient consultations, hospitalizations, and care for patients requiring special services, as reported by the state-run newspaper Girón.
The General Director of Public Health in Matanzas, Yamira López García, stated that the system will prioritize maintaining the “vitality” of the sector's facilities—polyclinics, hospitals, maternity homes, nursing homes, and Grandparent Homes, among others—and will focus on the maternal and child health program, oncology patients, medical emergencies, and individuals undergoing hemodialysis.
Elective surgeries are suspended and consultations are being reorganized
Among the immediate decisions, it was determined to temporarily suspend elective surgeries, while urgent, oncological, and pediatric surgeries would continue (the latter “subject to prior case discussion”).
Regarding outpatient services, the authorities clarified that they will not be suspended, but will be reorganized to optimize electricity consumption and the use of facilities, in order to continue serving the patients who visit the services.
The province has 125 patients on hemodialysis, and after coordinating with patients and families, it was decided to implement a hospital admission system, with beds already arranged, to ensure the treatment that may be needed up to three times a week.
“No patient will be left without the possibility of treatment,” assured López García.
Oncology in Crisis
Regarding oncology, Girón reported that in Matanzas, around 90 patients are receiving radiation therapy: 10 from Mayabeque, 20 from Havana, and 60 from the province.
The director reminded that radiotherapy requires electricity, which is why efforts are being made to maintain the "vitality" of the service's generator or other alternatives managed by the OBE.
He stated, "up to this moment, it remains active for all patients," and if it becomes necessary to admit some, there are established capabilities in place.
The report also specifies that in the municipality of Matanzas there are 55 patients undergoing outpatient chemotherapy, and in Cárdenas, 25.
They are reorganizing personnel and creating nursing brigades
In relation to the movement of healthcare personnel, 30 doctors (including specialists and residents) were reassigned from one municipality to another, previously linked to the Faustino and Pediatric hospitals; they will now be placed in locations close to their residences to strengthen primary care.
The text adds that 127 nurses are traveling, mainly related to critical care (neonatology, intensive therapies, operating rooms, and hemodialysis).
Brigades have been organized for them that will work for a minimum period of 72 hours and a maximum of 7 days, starting next Monday, replicating an experience implemented during COVID-19.
Vaccines, blood bank, and ambulances
As part of the logistics actions, refrigerated resources such as vaccines and the blood bank will be transferred to locations with protected electricity, primarily hospitals.
Girón reported that the Blood Bank has been moved to the Provincial Pediatric Hospital to ensure the continuity of essential services.
The optimization of medical transport was also announced: Matanzas has 16 ambulances designated for emergencies and urgent care.
Plan for Faustino Pérez Hospital: adjustments and fuel for generators
The Faustino Pérez Clinical Surgical Teaching Provincial Hospital is preparing a contingency plan that includes adjustments in medical assistance, ensuring the availability of medications and supplies, and administrative reorganization, as explained to Girón by its director, Taymí Martínez Naranjo.
Among the first measures of the center is the reorganization of human resources, especially nursing, with phases to reorganize wards and concentrate patients; additionally, 12-hour shifts are planned so that some nurses remain in the hospital.
Doctors who are unable to attend will continue working in regional hospitals.
The hospital also reported the initial suspension of elective surgeries as directed by the Ministry of Public Health, while urgent and emergency surgeries continue, and there is a decrease in outpatient consultations, although some services remain operational with reduced impact.
In the procurement area, purchases were consolidated and schedules for picking up medications were staggered at companies like ENSUME and ENCOMED, in addition to optimizing the use of diesel in boilers that support the kitchen-dining area, laundry, drying of clothes, and sterilization.
The director assured that fuel for the generators is guaranteed for now.
Finally, Faustino Pérez is working on solar panel projects: the hospital contacted a small and medium-sized enterprise and has a prior diagnosis.
According to the report, a first phase should be installed this month, with projects linked to Medicuba Suiza and another from Luxembourg through Medicuba Europa.
The initial panels will not supply the entire hospital, but they aim to secure critical areas such as intensive care and operating rooms.
Filed under: