Africa-Press – Cape verde. Health Minister Jorge Figueiredo today denied allegations that Agostinho Neto Hospital (HAN) in Praia is experiencing shortages in the supply of reagents or medications.
This assurance was given during the morning State of the Nation debate.
“It is false that Agostinho Neto Hospital is currently experiencing shortages in reagents and medications. They are all in order,” he stated, adding that, despite the complexity of the international market, the country has managed to maintain supplies.
According to the minister, progress in the health sector is visible and concrete, particularly in universal access to medical care, including specialized treatments.
“Today, everyone has access to treatment. Rich and poor. There is no difference. Oncology is the same. Access to oncology treatment was either expel or die. Today, all patients have direct access to chemotherapy, fully funded by the General State Budget,” he stated.
Regarding diagnostic tests, the minister referred to the recent distribution of CT scanners on several islands and explained that the country has already achieved a coverage rate higher than the Portuguese average.
“We currently have 10 CT scanners nationwide. The CT scanner at Agostinho Hospital alone has performed around 180,000 exams,” he stated.
Jorge Figueiredo also recalled that a decade ago, services like the Intensive Care Unit or functional neonatology didn’t exist.
“The neonatal mortality rate was 96%. Today, the survival rate is 98%. The difference is a blessing,” he said.
Despite the progress, the minister acknowledges that challenges remain, especially in the global context of the supply of medicines and reagents.
“The market is international, it’s extremely complex. Are there failures? Of course there are. But they exist in the United States, in Portugal, and everywhere in the world. We strive to resolve them,” he assured.
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