Paraguay's social security institute removes 99 cancer drugs from list, sparking patient outrage

Paraguay's Social Security Institute (IPS) has sparked alarm among cancer patients by removing 939 items, including 99 crucial oncology drugs, from its official list of covered medications. The decision, made by the IPS Council, has been labeled an "administrative adjustment" by authorities, aimed at streamlining purchases and eliminating unnecessary items.

However, patient advocacy groups strongly dispute this characterization. The Association of Oncological Patients of the IPS (APODIPS) asserts that many of the 916 items categorized as "supplies" are, in fact, vital medications. These include treatments like Rituximab, Trastuzumab, Adalimumab, and Etanercept, as well as supportive drugs such as Pegfilgrastim and Filgrastim.

APODIPS president Myrna Galeano expressed the group's distress, stating, "Patients need certainty, not uncertainty. A decision of this magnitude requires clear information and guarantees that no one will be left without the medication they need." The association is demanding clear technical and medical criteria justifying the exclusion of these life-saving drugs, fearing that the move directly threatens the continuity of treatments for many insured individuals.

The IPS, led by Isaías Fretes, claims the goal is to prevent purchasing "at random" and to "clean up" the list. Yet, the exclusion of these specific medications has intensified a crisis of confidence among patients who rely on them for survival. The organization is urgently seeking clarification and assurances from the IPS administration.