Catheter shortage delays kidney transplants

SOCIAL SECURITY patients awaiting kidney transplants  are having their surgery delayed because of the scarcity of some supplies particularly  certain types of catheters.

Marcos Moreno  leader of the Movement of Chronic and Transplant Patients said the lack of supplies is not the only obstacle that patients face.
 He said there are also delays in exams needed to prepare for the surgery.

The director of the Panamanian Transplant Organization, César Cuero, pointed out that patients’ complaints are not a “perception, but a reality'”

Cuero added that because of the lack of catheters, operations are postponed, endangering the

lives of patients. There are at least 232 patients on the waiting list for kidney transplants.

Social Security official Edgardo Saavedra said that the situation is being addressed.