Project: In behalf of the patient

PROJECT: “ IN BEHALF OF THE PATIENT”

Huk Vida is a Civil Association that advocates for the less fortunate citizens by making sure that all the laws are being enforced and that the citizens know what their rights are, which in many cases they don’t know they have. Our organization does this kind of work in the healthcare field. We created this project “In behalf of the patient”, two years ago when we saw the problems that the patients have to overcome and faced when they needed medical assistant, as well as when they needed to voice their concerns an opinions of the services provided in San Juan de Lurigancho’s hospitals as well as medical centers.

These complains came due to the lack of fulfillment when following rules and regulations, already established in how patients should be treated when seeking medical attention.

Right now the town has two hospital “Hospital San Juan de Lurigancho” and “Hospital de EsSalud” as well as thirty-six medical centers and satellites, which are not enough to treat and care for almost a million habitants, not to mention the quality of life that these people have, in many cases way below the basics.

Our duty is to do daily rounds ad-hoc in hospitals as well as medical centers and satellite
to observe, verify as well as sue to the authorities of any irregularities that are being done to the public, in this case the patients.

When we come across these findings, and the patients rights are being violated, we submit letters to the proper authorities up to and including “La Defensoria del Pueblo”, if necessary; hoping that the right measures are taken and that the community is being provided with the right treatment at the right time and at the right price. Our project assists and orientates the less fortunate members of the community, and its main goal is to make sure that the rules and regulations are followed “Que se cumpla la ley” (principle given by MINSA).

We have a space in “Cantogrande Radio Station” which we use to voice the complains that we find in our daily rounds to the hospitals and medical centers, and at the same time, we remind to the community as well as the healthcare providers about the rules and regulations that are not being followed.

We would also would like to add that in many cases we have observed that patients are not being treated in a timely manner, which increases the risk of the their health and many times this could be fatal.

Several of the complains that we get are from patients from the S.I.S., they said that they are being discriminated, and they are usually the last ones to be taken care of, as if they were treated for free, when we know that the centers are being reimbursed by the state for these patients.

In may cases we found patients that are being held after they have been discharged, just because they don’t have the means to cancel their bill; knowing that most of these people have no resources to cancel such bill and that public assistance is almost impossible to get. We had even had a case in which a minor was involved.
In these cases we got other institutions involved such as “La Defensoria del Pueblo” or “Fiscalia de Prevencion del Delito”, to help us to get these patients discharge at once.

We would like to add that most of the patients already know that no matter what their rights are, they will be violated and that is probably why they don’t demand the right treatment that they deserve as citizens.

Due to our work the authorities of the medical facilities in San Juan de Lurigancho had corrected several irregularities that were happening there, and the community seem very pleased with the results; we have testimonies of these happenings in our audios as well as letters and e-mails that they sent us. Many of these authorities were very pleased with our work, since they were not aware of these things happening in their medical facilities.

We requested that the prices of treatment were available to the public so they know how much they were being charged for each service, in oppose to before when they didn’t even have an idea of how much each service cost.

OBJECTIVES

Minimize any abuse and discrimination against the community especially the ones belonging to “Seguro Integral de Salud”, which are the most vulnerable just because there is a wrong believe that they get treatment for free. The government had set aside a special budget for this particular population.

To make health care professional, that have direct contact with the patients, aware that they can provide not only good services to the patient, but also tenderness and a sense of humanity to the needy ones.

That the price that are stipulated for the services would be reasonable and accessible to the users, and that no other charges will be done without previous authorization.

That not only the patients but also the healthcare providers are aware of all the rules and regulations, so they know their rights when they go looking for service at this or any other medical facilities.

It was not easy to get this work done since San Juan de Lurigancho is the biggest town in all South America with almost one million habitants and more than thirty medical facilities all around, and the population have barely enough to meet their primary needs and most of them live on the hills.

That is where we go, where only a few will, where people live and medical attention in any way possible when needed, where unfortunately the rules and regulations and any laws are unknown and ignored even though the healthcare providers should not only know them but also followed and honored them since they are state employees, who are paid by the state.

We would also like to mention that the directors of this health care facilities are not awareof the irregularities that take place, and the reason is because they don’t actually do any “hands on work”, they just wait for the complains; besides only a few patients complain and sue the institutions.


All the complains have to be made by applications or letters, and when their health is at risk all they want to do is to get service as soon as possible and the best way is to pay for such services. However not everyone can afford to make these payments. We have seen very sad cases.

These patients also are afraid to complain thinking that this could reflect on the kind of treatment that they will get. Some other cases were presented in maternity ward, where the patients had been physically abused, at in many cases they accept this kind of treatment because they know they need the services.

Is because of all these happenings that two years ago HUK VIDA decided to get involved and with all its limitations, lack of funds, and help of some sensible citizens, we got a space in “Cantogrande Radio Station”, where we can voice all the cases that we find and we ask the authorities to take action at once. Through our space in the radio station we get live testimonies of these happenings, as well people calling to ask questions or via e-mail.

I would like to mention that all these problems still happening, and because the health care providers have been doing wrong for so long is a hard habit to break. Our purpose is to make sure that all the laws and regulations are being followed and we still doing our daily rounds.

William Ludeña Mendoza
DNI 09536847
Phone 51197564307

Nuestra Misión: Que se cumpla la Ley.
Nuestra Visión: El diálogo como herramienta de solución de conflictos.

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