Lack of key medication suspends transplant program

The Social Security Fund (CSS), reacted on Saturday, after learning that the director of the Panamanian Transplant Organization, César Cuero, reported the temporary suspension of the transplant program due to the lack of basiliximab an inducer to prevent rejection of newly transplanted organs.

In a statement, the entity reported that to date, a total of 76 transplants have been carried out during 2022, of which 12 are related living kidneys, 21 kidneys with a deceased donor, one liver from a living donor (the first in Panama) , 9 deceased donor livers, one heart, and 23 bone marrow.

The note adds that the “success of the Transplant Program in the CSS during this year has generated that the amount of basiliximab that was scheduled to be used was exceeded.. However, to this day, all the patients who have been transplanted, even those of this week, have their dose of basiliximab that is required to guarantee its application”.

The CSS reported that there is a current contract with the supplier of the product which has a pending delivery of 79 ampoules that were scheduled for the year 2023.

“The drug is in Panama, in the hands of the supplier and the steps have already been taken to ensure that next week, after completing the review processes before the Pharmacy and Drugs Directorate of the Ministry of Health, we have it available. to give continuity to the program for the benefit of patients”, indicates the CSS.