IPS faces maternal health crisis amid drug price disputes

The Administrative Council of the Institute of Social Security (IPS) debated the urgent purchase of exoprenaline, a critical medication used to halt premature labor. The discussion exposed alarming disputes over inflated prices and the extreme vulnerability of maternal and infant health within the social security system.

Dr. Liz Karina González, head of the Gynecology and Obstetrics Department, alongside Dr. Miriam Duarte, presented the dire state of a neglected health network struggling for basic supplies. Dr. González emphasized exoprenaline's irreplaceable role, particularly in regional IPS facilities. She explained it is the primary pharmacological barrier to stop premature births between 24 and 34 weeks of gestation, providing crucial time for fetal lung maturation before risky transfers to the overwhelmed Central Hospital.

Despite the critical need for this drug to prevent costly neonatal intensive care transfers, the IPS is questioning its purchase due to a scandalous price hike. The cost per ampoule has surged from G. 18,000 to G. 35,000. Dr. González noted that while Atosibán is an alternative, it is not available in interior hospitals and is prohibitively expensive, limiting its use to the Central Hospital.

During the session, council members questioned the passive approach to procurement amidst aggressive supplier tactics. IPS President Isaías Fretes acknowledged that relying on a single bidder leaves the institution and its patients, especially those in remote areas, in a vulnerable position. A previous debate on acquiring Atosibán also revealed a significant 89% increase in its reference price, projecting a monthly overcost of G. 192,500,000.