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ASSE Paid $685,000 for Taxi Transport in Pilot Program Before Tender Award
🇺🇾 Uruguay /Energy & Infrastructure

ASSE Paid $685,000 for Taxi Transport in Pilot Program Before Tender Award

From El País · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Documents & data New plan
  • Uruguay's State Health Services Administration (ASSE) spent $685,000 on taxi services for patient transport in March and April as part of a pilot program.
  • This spending occurred before the finalization of a public tender for transport services.
  • ASSE claims the pilot program saved money compared to previous contracted services, costing approximately $600 per trip versus $8,150.

The State Health Services Administration (ASSE) in Uruguay spent $685,000 on taxi services for patient transport during March and April, according to data obtained through a public information request. This spending occurred within a "pilot program" initiated shortly before a public tender for transport services was finalized.

There is no mystery or anything strange.

— Álvaro DanzaDefending the pilot program for taxi transport services.

ASSE decided on March 24 to contract taxi services for "non-medicalized" users as a cost-saving measure. In the last week of March, the administration contracted 122 trips costing $68,948. In April, it paid $615,750 for 1,032 trips. The report did not include data for May. The pilot program, aimed at reducing costs for transporting socially vulnerable patients, resulted in an average cost of about $600 per trip.

This initiative has sparked controversy and led to appeals from ambulance companies against the tender specifications. ASSE President Álvaro Danza defended the program, stating there was "no mystery or anything strange" about it. He explained that these trips are for patients who would otherwise be unable to receive essential services like dialysis. Danza asserted that the direct contracting of taxi services was done using the same method as for UTAM (formerly ITHG), a firm previously questioned by the opposition Broad Front. However, he highlighted a significant cost difference: taxi trips cost $600, while UTAM's services were $8,150.

We are paying 13.6 times less.

— Álvaro DanzaHighlighting cost savings achieved by using taxis compared to previous services.

"We are paying 13.6 times less," Danza told Parliament, adding that between April 12 and May 12, ASSE saved approximately $11 million by conducting 30 to 40 taxi transfers daily. Concurrently, ASSE is still in the process of awarding a contract for transport services in the metropolitan area, which could cover up to 150,000 kilometers annually. The agency received 17 bids on May 19 from various transport providers, including ride-sharing apps, taxis, and ambulance services. Despite appeals from ambulance companies, ASSE has lifted the suspensive effect on the tender, allowing the process to continue with taxis among the competitors.

Between April 12 and May 12, the Administration saved exactly $11 million by making between 30 and 40 transfers per day by taxi.

— Álvaro DanzaQuantifying the financial savings from the taxi pilot program.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by El País in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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