Alarming shortage of specialists to care for Puerto Rico veterans
SAN JUAN — The population of veterans in Puerto Rico, which easily reaches 93,000, does not have the needed number of specialists to receive the healthcare they require, particularly the 65 percent of veterans who are over 65 years old.
The information was announced Monday during the first public hearing that the U.S. House Subcommittee on Health held on the island since its creation in 1946, and where Resident Commissioner Jenniffer González participated along with Reps. Phil Roe (R-TN) and Brad Wenstrup (R-OH).
“We are facing many complaints, in terms of it taking veterans three and four months to get an appointment,” González said, stressing the lack of surgeons, oncologists, dermatologists and other healthcare professionals to attend the colossal population of veterans on the island.
Resident Commissioner requests better Puerto Rico health provider rates
Among other concerns that González detailed, she highlighted the state of some of the eight clinics under the Veterans Hospital (VA) system, particularly the health center at the municipality of Arecibo, where veterans receive treatment under a tent at a parking lot.
At the “Field Hearing: VA Healthcare: Maximizing Resources in Puerto Rico,” the president of the Puerto Rico College of Physicians & Surgeons, Víctor Ramos, noted in his statement that the positions in the VA’s health care system remain “open”; however, “bureaucratic obstacles” interrupt the hiring process.
“Although the government has incentivized doctors to remain in Puerto Rico with special tax rates to stay or return to the island, it is necessary to do more to stop emigration and bring them back,” Ramos said.
According to data provided by Ramos, a doctor a day left the island in 2016; while last year, before Hurricane Maria struck, 700 doctors had out-migrated “and a greater number is estimated to emigrate this year. Out of the 400 cardiologists in Puerto Rico 11 years ago, today we have less than 100.”
“What we are seeking is [to evaluate how] resources are assigned to the Veterans Department for the hiring of health professionals here in Puerto Rico [so] we don’t keep losing them,” González said, emphasizing that the federal government allocated more than $93 million to restore the island’s clinics and $11 million to install mobile units.
Puerto Rico mental health critical
At the same hearing, Health Secretary Rafael Rodríguez acknowledged that suicide attempts had seen “a worrisome increase” after Hurricane Maria in September.
“The mental health and suicide hotline received 26,634 calls between October and December 2017. Of these, 9,000 calls expressed suicidal behavior; 6,733 verbalized a plan to end their lives; and 2,206 had the intention [of committing suicide],” the official explained.
Rodríguez added that the number of calls in January rose by roughly 3,000 compared with December last year. Of these, 26 percent were suicide-related. Before Maria, the mental health hotline received about 200 calls a day and now receives more than 500.
“There is no doubt in my mind that much remains to be done in that area. We must continue to work with the stigma associated with mental health illnesses and continue to transform medical care to see mental health as part of a system that works together and not separate,” the secretary said.
Puerto Rico medical organization sues US Health Dept. to obtain funding parity
Related Posts
Latest News
-
Medplus Solutions celebrates 10 years Saving Lives
Innovation and continuous growth Expansion of specialized and more comprehensive...
- Posted May 18, 2022
-
The Impact of Climate Change in Puerto Rico and on Humanity
Climate change on Earth affects humanity in all of the...
- Posted May 14, 2022
-
Cowboys and Indians Revisit the Federal Realm
The recent decision by the U.S. Supreme Court that the...
- Posted May 14, 2022
-
Puerto Rico Has Highest Proportion of Tax Expenditures Globally
Study by Espacios Abiertos Reveals Cost of Economic Incentives is...
- Posted May 14, 2022
-
SSI Exclusion Leaves Puerto Rico in the Cold
Associate Justice Sees Potential Repeal of ‘Shameful’ Insular Cases The...
- Posted May 13, 2022
-
GM Sectec, UPR Sign Cybersecurity Agreement
Organizations Establish Practice Centers for Students in Cybersecurity, IT GM...
- Posted May 13, 2022
-
Government, Academia Reach Agreement to Develop Workforce
Will Provide Training for Participants of Labor Development Program Puerto...
- Posted May 13, 2022
-
Medplus Solutions celebrates 10 years Saving Lives
Innovation and continuous growth Expansion of specialized and more...
- May 18, 2022
-
Amazon Web Services Expands Operations in Puerto Rico
Local Office Will Offer Services to other Caribbean Islands...
- April 22, 2022
-
García Padilla: Rubio Is No Friend of Puerto Rico
Governor Says Rubio's Remarks Confirm he Works for 'Vultures'
- February 26, 2016
- 15
You must be logged in to post a comment Login