El Diario El Salvador, in addressing the issue, pointed out that over USD$50 million were invested in 2023 to strengthen the national hospital network with radiological equipment and to strengthen the Emergency Medical System (SEM).

According to Health Minister Francisco Alabi, during the five-year term of President Nayib Bukele, the largest investment was made to acquire radiology, CT and MRI equipment for the hospital network.

“About USD$30 million were invested in radiological equipment. During President Nayib Bukele´s administration alone, more CT scans have been acquired than in the entire time the Health Ministry has existed in El Salvador,” said Alabi.

Alabi regretted that for decades the health system was monopolized, so that patients were referred to the private network to undergo specialized examinations including CAT scans and MRIs, at costs of over USD$400, and now these are available in the public sector free of charge.

The same happened in hemodialysis, endoscopies and specialized areas. It is enough to look at all this and analyze everything that was done in public health to realize that the objective is to solve all those things that were intentionally generated to benefit many people in the private sector, the minister stated.

Why do we have a large amount of imaging and diagnostic equipment? So that people do not have to pay for resonance, tomography, ultrasonography, emphasized Alabi when referring to something that in the private sector sometimes exceeds USD$500 per consultation.

The San Rafael, Usulután and San Miguel hospitals received this equipment and more is being installed in other medical centers, said the minister, something that this reporter confirmed during visits to hospitals such as Zacamil and San Rafael.

The minister also praised the strengthening of the Emergency Medical System (SEM) with a USD$21 million investment in acquiring brand-new ambulances for the entire country, human resources and other needs of the sector.

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