Members of Subsection 07 of the National Union of Health Secretariat Workers (SNTSA) staged a three-hour protest yesterday outside the Dr. Aurelio Valdivieso Civil Hospital to denounce the state of neglect and the shortages plaguing the facility.
They reported a lack of medicines, supplies, and autoclaves—machines essential for sterilizing equipment and surgical linens—a situation that jeopardizes surgical procedures.
The subsection’s general secretary, Patricia Méndez, explained that they have been dealing with this issue for months and have reported it to IMSS-Bienestar—the entity that took over the hospital’s operations—yet the problem remains unresolved.
Méndez noted that, far from acknowledging the irregularities at the state’s main public hospital, the institution has instead sought to disparage the workforce, even though the staff has provided evidence of the shortages.
The primary issue, she highlighted, is a lack of proper attention, resulting in shortages of supplies and medicines; current stock levels range from only 30 to 50 percent, and frequently used drugs are unavailable. “There isn’t even something as basic as paracetamol,” she stated.
Lack of autoclaves for sterilization
Regarding the autoclaves, she explained that while two new machines were provided during the current administration—bringing the total to five—they broke down due to a lack of proper maintenance by IMSS-Bienestar. This prevents the correct sterilization of medical equipment and surgical linens, forcing a reduction in surgeries to only emergency cases, Méndez criticized.
She mentioned that, to sterilize their equipment, they have had to turn to other hospitals that allow them to disinfect some of the necessary gear, but this does not address the root of the problem. “There are defects even in the drains”
Other protesters pointed out recurring elevator malfunctions, damaged drains, and a kitchen that has been under renovation for months—disrupting food preparation and distribution for inpatients—compounded by the fact that the boilers are also not working.
They noted that work-related pressure and exhaustion among doctors and nurses have also increased, as the flow of patients never stops; the hospital receives residents from municipalities surrounding the state capital.
The protest, which began at 9:00 a.m., took place outside the civil hospital in the Reforma neighborhood. Doctors, nurses, and other off-duty staff displayed banners and handed out flyers to pedestrians and motorists to voice their grievances.
They also stated that emergency and inpatient care had not been suspended; “our intention is to warn about the risks that persist at the Aurelio Valdivieso.”
Patricia Méndez criticized IMSS-Bienestar authorities for disparaging the workforce by claiming they were “lying” and asserting that the hospital—which receives patients from across the state—was “functioning normally.” All of this is false, the leader emphasized, “because if the hospital continues to operate, it is due to the efforts of the workers, who have to find ways to deal with the shortages.”
Furthermore, “the lack of equipment, medicines, and supplies is a reality, even if they refuse to acknowledge it; the most serious issue is that, instead of addressing and resolving the problems, the authorities in charge have focused on discrediting us,” she stated.
Source: jornada
