Bolivia: Civic Committee Files Legal Action Over Unpaid Dialysis Treatments

Kidney patients in Bolivia are facing critical treatment disruptions due to unpaid government debts to private dialysis centers. The Comité pro Santa Cruz, a prominent civic organization, has escalated the issue by filing a legal action, known as an "acción de libertad," against key government officials and a judge. The suit aims to force a swift resolution to the crisis, which has left patients struggling to access essential hemodialysis.

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Today, I am filing an action for freedom against the judge who was handling the previous case, for not resolving it within the procedural times, and yet she excuses herself by saying she does not have that authority.

Stello Cochamanidis, president of the Comité pro Santa Cruz, expressed frustration with the government's failure to pay private clinics for eight to nine months. He stated that this non-payment directly impacts the quality of life for patients who rely on regular dialysis. Cochamanidis specifically targeted the Minister of Health, the Minister of Finance, and a judge for their alleged inaction and failure to adhere to procedural timelines.

"Today, I am filing an action for freedom against the judge who was handling the previous case, for not resolving it within the procedural times, and yet she excuses herself by saying she does not have that authority," Cochamanidis said. He added that the action also includes "the minister of health and the minister of finance, who are responsible for making payments to the private dialysis centers and whom the government is not complying with."

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the minister of health and the minister of finance, who are responsible for making payments to the private dialysis centers and whom the government is not complying with.

Patients and their families have been protesting for weeks, highlighting the precarious situation. They report that the lack of payment to private entities providing hemodialysis puts their treatments at risk. The legal action by the Comité pro Santa Cruz seeks to enforce a constitutional ruling that favors the patients, demanding that the state fulfill its financial obligations to ensure continuous and quality care.

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the patients renales ya se están viendo en dificultades para ser atendidos