Victims of mass poisoning lacking treatment, compensation

SEVEN YEARS after Panama’s diethlyne glycol poisoning scandal that killed over 300 people, surviving victims are not getting treatment or compensation.

Daniel Sarmiento, vice president of the Committee of the Right to Health and Life, complained that the authorities of the toxicology unit of Social Security have not bought drugs that patients need to maintain the stability of their health.

According to Sarmiento, the agency has not received instructions from the directors of the agency for the purchase of the medicine for more than ayear.
Sarmiento said he is concerned that the government is failing to live up to promises made to the victims.
Sarmiento told La Prensa that, to date, Social Security has not given any information about when the payments, which average $600 monthly, will start.
"We have not received a dime," he said , saying several individuals have died this year without receiving any payments, which were approved in March.
He said that there are 975 patients who ingested the poison but who have not been recognized as victims by the government.
He called on President Ricardo Martinelli, Social Security Director Guillermo Sáez-Llorens and Deputy Director Marlon de Souza to comply with what has been agreed upon.
De Souza said that he could not comment because it is a legal matter.