IPS says 'primary standards' exclusion is technical, doesn't remove medications from its Vademecum

Paraguay's Institute of Social Security (IPS) issued a statement to quell patient concerns following the announcement of removing certain "primary standards" from its Vademecum. The institution emphasized that this measure is purely technical and pertains solely to reference substances used by the Quality Control Department for analytical testing. These materials, it stressed, are not medications for patients and do not affect ongoing treatments.

The clarification aims to separate internal laboratory procedures from the actual supply of medicines. The IPS stated that the exclusion of these specific standards is limited to the technical and administrative sphere of the Quality Control Department and will not result in the elimination of medications from the institutional Vademecum or the suspension of treatments. This aims to reassure patients that their access to necessary drugs remains unaffected.

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These materials DO NOT constitute medications intended for patients nor are they part of prescribed treatments.

However, the announcement follows a significant administrative cut of 939 items from the IPS list. While the IPS frames this as a necessary adjustment to streamline finances, patient groups, particularly the Association of Patients with Cancer of the IPS (APODIPS), view the situation with alarm. Preliminary analyses by patients suggest that the broader list of "supplies" removed may include up to 99 complex oncological and life-support medications, raising fears about the availability of critical treatments.

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The exclusion of certain primary standards does not imply the elimination of medications from the Institutional Vademecum, nor the suspension of treatments, nor the loss of insured persons' access to corresponding drugs. The measure is limited to the technical and administrative scope of the Quality Control Department.