The Governor of Jalisco, Enrique Alfaro Ramírez, will meet next Friday with relatives of those in Jalisco affected by lack of cancer medicine.
The Government of Jalisco is committed to maintaining the health of the people of Jalisco, for this reason it will form working groups with various civil associations to seek the solution to the supply of cancer drugs, insisted the head of the Jalisco Health Secretariat, Fernando Petersen Aranguren, while attending an afternoon last week at the La Minerva roundabout, where a protest demonstration was held regarding the lack of anti-cancer medicines.
The Secretary of Health listened to the demands and received a request form from the representatives of various civil associations that support cancer patients, a message that he offered to take to the Governor of the State, Enrique Alfaro Ramírez, in order to achieve the total supply of the drugs.
"We come to show empathy with each of the patients and families to say that in Jalisco you are valued, that you will be protected, and we will be working with all of you," said Petersen Aranguren.
He stated that the global supply of cancer medicine is complicated by the shortage of drugs resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic and the lack of response from the Federal Government, which is responsible for granting the treatments. "We are standing up so that everyone can have the solution to the most important health problems in Jalisco," he remarked.
He confirmed that next Friday there will be a meeting headed by the Governor of Jalisco with relatives of those affected by lack of medicine, to talk about and propose possible solutions to resupply anticancer drugs, while waiting for the final resolution to this serious problem by the Federal Government.
Many cancer patients have not stopped receiving treatment thanks to the support of Jaliscan civil associations.
In 2020, funds of 22,608,452 pesos were allocated to the contingent modality in 81 facilities throughout Jalisco, among which nine stand out in the oncology issue receiving 10,546,806 pesos, and supporting 554 direct beneficiaries who obtained medication to maintain continuity of their treatments.
In March of 2021, the Contingent Support Program was announced to assist in the costs of urgent medical care and cancer medicines, with assigned funds of up to 24 million pesos.
The General Strategic Social Development Coordinator, Anna Bárbara Casillas García, pointed out that the Government of Jalisco is aware of what the expenses for the care of a disease such as cancer represent for families.
“This year what we are doing is, from the resources of the Undersecretariat, 24 million pesos will be in competition. Rightful priority will be given to these organizations hoping to increase support so that more people obtain medicines in a timely manner, and improve their quality of life so they can function fully in society,” she explained.
The Secretary of the Social Assistance System, Alberto Esquer Gutiérrez, explained that each of the facilities that wish to participate in this call can access a maximum amount of 200 thousand pesos for projects or intervention actions on issues such as COVID-19, while those that request resources for the acquisition of oncological drugs, will receive resources for up to two million pesos.
The Director of Nariz Roja, AC, Alejandro Barbosa Padilla thanked the effort made by the Government of Jalisco to support not only children facing a disease such as cancer, but also other sectors of the population that have been affected by the lack of resources of the Federation to attend to your needs.
“A single woman is going to be prescribed a medicine that costs 40,000 pesos, for nine months, it is 360,000 pesos. Imagine the impact on that family. And we are talking that cancer is the leading cause of death in the country for women, and in children it is the second,” he said.
Any civil organization legally constituted in the 125 municipalities of Jalisco may request support in the contingent mode through September 30, in compliance with the requirements established in the call, which can be consulted on the website: