Keep Us Strong WikiLeaks logo

Currently released so far... 251287 / 251,287

Articles

Browse latest releases

Browse by creation date

Browse by origin

A B C D F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z

Browse by tag

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
AEMR ASEC AMGT AE AS AMED AVIAN AU AF AORC AGENDA AO AR AM APER AFIN ATRN AJ ABUD ARABL AL AG AODE ALOW ADANA AADP AND APECO ACABQ ASEAN AA AFFAIRS AID AGR AY AGS AFSI AGOA AMB ARF ANET ASCH ACOA AFLU AFSN AMEX AFDB ABLD AESC AFGHANISTAN AINF AVIATION ARR ARSO ANDREW ASSEMBLY AIDS APRC ASSK ADCO ASIG AC AZ APEC AFINM ADB AP ACOTA ASEX ACKM ASUP ANTITERRORISM ADPM AINR ARABLEAGUE AGAO AORG AMTC AIN ACCOUNT ASECAFINGMGRIZOREPTU AIDAC AINT ARCH AMGTKSUP ALAMI AMCHAMS ALJAZEERA AVIANFLU AORD AOREC ALIREZA AOMS AMGMT ABDALLAH AORCAE AHMED ACCELERATED AUC ALZUGUREN ANGEL AORL ASECIR AMG AMBASSADOR AEMRASECCASCKFLOMARRPRELPINRAMGTJMXL ADM ASES ABMC AER AMER ASE AMGTHA ARNOLDFREDERICK AOPC ACS AFL AEGR ASED AFPREL AGRI AMCHAM ARNOLD AN ANATO AME APERTH ASECSI AT ACDA ASEDC AIT AMERICA AMLB AMGE ACTION AGMT AFINIZ ASECVE ADRC ABER AGIT APCS AEMED ARABBL ARC ASO AIAG ACEC ASR ASECM ARG AEC ABT ADIP ADCP ANARCHISTS AORCUN AOWC ASJA AALC AX AROC ARM AGENCIES ALBE AK AZE AOPR AREP AMIA ASCE ALANAZI ABDULRAHMEN ABDULHADI AINFCY ARMS ASECEFINKCRMKPAOPTERKHLSAEMRNS AGRICULTURE AFPK AOCR ALEXANDER ATRD ATFN ABLG AORCD AFGHAN ARAS AORCYM AVERY ALVAREZ ACBAQ ALOWAR ANTOINE ABLDG ALAB AMERICAS AFAF ASECAFIN ASEK ASCC AMCT AMGTATK AMT APDC AEMRS ASECE AFSA ATRA ARTICLE ARENA AISG AEMRBC AFR AEIR ASECAF AFARI AMPR ASPA ASOC ANTONIO AORCL ASECARP APRM AUSTRALIAGROUP ASEG AFOR AEAID AMEDI ASECTH ASIC AFDIN AGUIRRE AUNR ASFC AOIC ANTXON ASA ASECCASC ALI AORCEUNPREFPRELSMIGBN ASECKHLS ASSSEMBLY ASECVZ AI ASECPGOV ASIR ASCEC ASAC ARAB AIEA ADMIRAL AUSGR AQ AMTG ARRMZY ANC APR AMAT AIHRC AFU ADEL AECL ACAO AMEMR ADEP AV AW AOR ALL ALOUNI AORCUNGA ALNEA ASC AORCO ARMITAGE AGENGA AGRIC AEM ACOAAMGT AGUILAR AFPHUM AMEDCASCKFLO AFZAL AAA ATPDEA ASECPHUM ASECKFRDCVISKIRFPHUMSMIGEG
ETRD ETTC EU ECON EFIN EAGR EAID ELAB EINV ENIV ENRG EPET EZ ELTN ELECTIONS ECPS ET ER EG EUN EIND ECONOMICS EMIN ECIN EINT EWWT EAIR EN ENGR ES EI ETMIN EL EPA EARG EFIS ECONOMY EC EK ELAM ECONOMIC EAR ESDP ECCP ELN EUM EUMEM ECA EAP ELEC ECOWAS EFTA EXIM ETTD EDRC ECOSOC ECPSN ENVIRONMENT ECO EMAIL ECTRD EREL EDU ENERG ENERGY ENVR ETRAD EAC EXTERNAL EFIC ECIP ERTD EUC ENRGMO EINZ ESTH ECCT EAGER ECPN ELNT ERD EGEN ETRN EIVN ETDR EXEC EIAD EIAR EVN EPRT ETTF ENGY EAIDCIN EXPORT ETRC ESA EIB EAPC EPIT ESOCI ETRB EINDQTRD ENRC EGOV ECLAC EUR ELF ETEL ENRGUA EVIN EARI ESCAP EID ERIN ELAN ENVT EDEV EWWY EXBS ECOM EV ELNTECON ECE ETRDGK EPETEIND ESCI ETRDAORC EAIDETRD ETTR EMS EAGRECONEINVPGOVBN EBRD EUREM ERGR EAGRBN EAUD EFI ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS EPEC ETRO ENRGY EGAR ESSO EGAD ENV ENER EAIDXMXAXBXFFR ELA EET EINVETRD EETC EIDN ERGY ETRDPGOV EING EMINCG EINVECON EURM EEC EICN EINO EPSC ELAP ELABPGOVBN EE ESPS ETRA ECONETRDBESPAR ERICKSON EEOC EVENTS EPIN EB ECUN EPWR ENG EX EH EAIDAR EAIS ELBA EPETUN ETRDEIQ EENV ECPC ETRP ECONENRG EUEAID EWT EEB EAIDNI ESENV EADM ECN ENRGKNNP ETAD ETR ECONETRDEAGRJA ETRG ETER EDUC EITC EBUD EAIF EBEXP EAIDS EITI EGOVSY EFQ ECOQKPKO ETRGY ESF EUE EAIC EPGOV ENFR EAGRE ENRD EINTECPS EAVI ETC ETCC EIAID EAIDAF EAGREAIDPGOVPRELBN EAOD ETRDA EURN EASS EINVA EAIDRW EON ECOR EPREL EGPHUM ELTM ECOS EINN ENNP EUPGOV EAGRTR ECONCS ETIO ETRDGR EAIDB EISNAR EIFN ESPINOSA EAIDASEC ELIN EWTR EMED ETFN ETT EADI EPTER ELDIN EINVEFIN ESS ENRGIZ EQRD ESOC ETRDECD ECINECONCS EAIT ECONEAIR ECONEFIN EUNJ ENRGKNNPMNUCPARMPRELNPTIAEAJMXL ELAD EFIM ETIC EFND EFN ETLN ENGRD EWRG ETA EIN EAIRECONRP EXIMOPIC ERA ENRGJM ECONEGE ENVI ECHEVARRIA EMINETRD EAD ECONIZ EENG ELBR EWWC ELTD EAIDMG ETRK EIPR EISNLN ETEX EPTED EFINECONCS EPCS EAG ETRDKIPR ED EAIO ETRDEC ENRGPARMOTRASENVKGHGPGOVECONTSPLEAID ECONEINVEFINPGOVIZ ERNG EFINU EURFOR EWWI ELTNSNAR ETD EAIRASECCASCID EOXC ESTN EAIDAORC EAGRRP ETRDEMIN ELABPHUMSMIGKCRMBN ETRDEINVTINTCS EGHG EAIDPHUMPRELUG EAGRBTIOBEXPETRDBN EDA EPETPGOV ELAINE EUCOM EMW EFINECONEAIDUNGAGM ELB EINDETRD EMI ETRDECONWTOCS EINR ESTRADA EHUM EFNI ELABV ENR EMN EXO EWWTPRELPGOVMASSMARRBN EATO END EP EINVETC ECONEFINETRDPGOVEAGRPTERKTFNKCRMEAID ELTRN EIQ ETTW EAI ENGRG ETRED ENDURING ETTRD EAIDEGZ EOCN EINF EUPREL ENRL ECPO ENLT EEFIN EPPD ECOIN EUEAGR EISL EIDE ENRGSD EINVECONSENVCSJA EAIG ENTG EEPET EUNCH EPECO ETZ EPAT EPTE EAIRGM ETRDPREL EUNGRSISAFPKSYLESO ETTN EINVKSCA ESLCO EBMGT ENRGTRGYETRDBEXPBTIOSZ EFLU ELND EFINOECD EAIDHO EDUARDO ENEG ECONEINVETRDEFINELABETRDKTDBPGOVOPIC EFINTS ECONQH ENRGPREL EUNPHUM EINDIR EPE EMINECINECONSENVTBIONS EFINM ECRM EQ EWWTSP ECONPGOVBN
KFLO KPKO KDEM KFLU KTEX KMDR KPAO KCRM KIDE KN KNNP KG KMCA KZ KJUS KWBG KU KDMR KAWC KCOR KPAL KOMC KTDB KTIA KISL KHIV KHUM KTER KCFE KTFN KS KIRF KTIP KIRC KSCA KICA KIPR KPWR KWMN KE KGIC KGIT KSTC KACT KSEP KFRD KUNR KHLS KCRS KRVC KUWAIT KVPR KSRE KMPI KMRS KNRV KNEI KCIP KSEO KITA KDRG KV KSUM KCUL KPET KBCT KO KSEC KOLY KNAR KGHG KSAF KWNM KNUC KMNP KVIR KPOL KOCI KPIR KLIG KSAC KSTH KNPT KINL KPRP KRIM KICC KIFR KPRV KAWK KFIN KT KVRC KR KHDP KGOV KPOW KTBT KPMI KPOA KRIF KEDEM KFSC KY KGCC KATRINA KWAC KSPR KTBD KBIO KSCI KRCM KNNB KBNC KIMT KCSY KINR KRAD KMFO KCORR KW KDEMSOCI KNEP KFPC KEMPI KBTR KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KNPP KTTB KTFIN KBTS KCOM KFTN KMOC KOR KDP KPOP KGHA KSLG KMCR KJUST KUM KMSG KHPD KREC KIPRTRD KPREL KEN KCSA KCRIM KGLB KAKA KWWT KUNP KCRN KISLPINR KLFU KUNC KEDU KCMA KREF KPAS KRKO KNNC KLHS KWAK KOC KAPO KTDD KOGL KLAP KECF KCRCM KNDP KSEAO KCIS KISM KREL KISR KISC KKPO KWCR KPFO KUS KX KWCI KRFD KWPG KTRD KH KLSO KEVIN KEANE KACW KWRF KNAO KETTC KTAO KWIR KVCORR KDEMGT KPLS KICT KWGB KIDS KSCS KIRP KSTCPL KDEN KLAB KFLOA KIND KMIG KPPAO KPRO KLEG KGKG KCUM KTTP KWPA KIIP KPEO KICR KNNA KMGT KCROM KMCC KLPM KNNPGM KSIA KSI KWWW KOMS KESS KMCAJO KWN KTDM KDCM KCM KVPRKHLS KENV KCCP KGCN KCEM KEMR KWMNKDEM KNNPPARM KDRM KWIM KJRE KAID KWMM KPAONZ KUAE KTFR KIF KNAP KPSC KSOCI KCWI KAUST KPIN KCHG KLBO KIRCOEXC KI KIRCHOFF KSTT KNPR KDRL KCFC KLTN KPAOKMDRKE KPALAOIS KESO KKOR KSMT KFTFN KTFM KDEMK KPKP KOCM KNN KISLSCUL KFRDSOCIRO KINT KRG KWMNSMIG KSTCC KPAOY KFOR KWPR KSEPCVIS KGIV KSEI KIL KWMNPHUMPRELKPAOZW KQ KEMS KHSL KTNF KPDD KANSOU KKIV KFCE KTTC KGH KNNNP KK KSCT KWNN KAWX KOMCSG KEIM KTSD KFIU KDTB KFGM KACP KWWMN KWAWC KSPA KGICKS KNUP KNNO KISLAO KTPN KSTS KPRM KPALPREL KPO KTLA KCRP KNMP KAWCK KCERS KDUM KEDM KTIALG KWUN KPTS KPEM KMEPI KAWL KHMN KCRO KCMR KPTD KCROR KMPT KTRF KSKN KMAC KUK KIRL KEM KSOC KBTC KOM KINP KDEMAF KTNBT KISK KRM KWBW KBWG KNNPMNUC KNOP KSUP KCOG KNET KWBC KESP KMRD KEBG KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KPWG KOMCCO KRGY KNNF KPROG KJAN KFRED KPOKO KM KWMNCS KMPF KJWC KJU KSMIG KALR KRAL KDGOV KPA KCRMJA KCRI KAYLA KPGOV KRD KNNPCH KFEM KPRD KFAM KALM KIPRETRDKCRM KMPP KADM KRFR KMWN KWRG KTIAPARM KTIAEUN KRDP KLIP KDDEM KTIAIC KWKN KPAD KDM KRCS KWBGSY KEAI KIVP KPAOPREL KUNH KTSC KIPT KNP KJUSTH KGOR KEPREL KHSA KGHGHIV KNNR KOMH KRCIM KWPB KWIC KINF KPER KILS KA KNRG KCSI KFRP KLFLO KFE KNPPIS KQM KQRDQ KERG KPAOPHUM KSUMPHUM KVBL KARIM KOSOVO KNSD KUIR KWHG KWBGXF KWMNU KPBT KKNP KERF KCRT KVIS KWRC KVIP KTFS KMARR KDGR KPAI KDE KTCRE KMPIO KUNRAORC KHOURY KAWS KPAK KOEM KCGC KID KVRP KCPS KIVR KBDS KWOMN KIIC KTFNJA KARZAI KMVP KHJUS KPKOUNSC KMAR KIBL KUNA KSA KIS KJUSAF KDEV KPMO KHIB KIRD KOUYATE KIPRZ KBEM KPAM KDET KPPD KOSCE KJUSKUNR KICCPUR KRMS KWMNPREL KWMJN KREISLER KWM KDHS KRV KPOV KWMNCI KMPL KFLD KWWN KCVM KIMMITT KCASC KOMO KNATO KDDG KHGH KRF KSCAECON KWMEN KRIC
PREL PINR PGOV PHUM PTER PE PREF PARM PBTS PINS PHSA PK PL PM PNAT PHAS PO PROP PGOVE PA PU POLITICAL PPTER POL PALESTINIAN PHUN PIN PAMQ PPA PSEC POLM PBIO PSOE PDEM PAK PF PKAO PGOVPRELMARRMOPS PMIL PV POLITICS PRELS POLICY PRELHA PIRN PINT PGOG PERSONS PRC PEACE PROCESS PRELPGOV PROV PFOV PKK PRE PT PIRF PSI PRL PRELAF PROG PARMP PERL PUNE PREFA PP PGOB PUM PROTECTION PARTIES PRIL PEL PAGE PS PGO PCUL PLUM PIF PGOVENRGCVISMASSEAIDOPRCEWWTBN PMUC PCOR PAS PB PKO PY PKST PTR PRM POUS PRELIZ PGIC PHUMS PAL PNUC PLO PMOPS PHM PGOVBL PBK PELOSI PTE PGOVAU PNR PINSO PRO PLAB PREM PNIR PSOCI PBS PD PHUML PERURENA PKPA PVOV PMAR PHUMCF PUHM PHUH PRELPGOVETTCIRAE PRT PROPERTY PEPFAR PREI POLUN PAR PINSF PREFL PH PREC PPD PING PQL PINSCE PGV PREO PRELUN POV PGOVPHUM PINRES PRES PGOC PINO POTUS PTERE PRELKPAO PRGOV PETR PGOVEAGRKMCAKNARBN PPKO PARLIAMENT PEPR PMIG PTBS PACE PETER PMDL PVIP PKPO POLMIL PTEL PJUS PHUMNI PRELKPAOIZ PGOVPREL POGV PEREZ POWELL PMASS PDOV PARN PG PPOL PGIV PAIGH PBOV PETROL PGPV PGOVL POSTS PSO PRELEU PRELECON PHUMPINS PGOVKCMABN PQM PRELSP PRGO PATTY PRELPGOVEAIDECONEINVBEXPSCULOIIPBTIO PGVO PROTESTS PRELPLS PKFK PGOVEAIDUKNOSWGMHUCANLLHFRSPITNZ PARAGRAPH PRELGOV POG PTRD PTERM PBTSAG PHUMKPAL PRELPK PTERPGOV PAO PRIVATIZATION PSCE PPAO PGOVPRELPHUMPREFSMIGELABEAIDKCRMKWMN PARALYMPIC PRUM PKPRP PETERS PAHO PARMS PGREL PINV POINS PHUMPREL POREL PRELNL PHUMPGOV PGOVQL PLAN PRELL PARP PROVE PSOC PDD PRELNP PRELBR PKMN PGKV PUAS PRELTBIOBA PBTSEWWT PTERIS PGOVU PRELGG PHUMPRELPGOV PFOR PEPGOV PRELUNSC PRAM PICES PTERIZ PREK PRELEAGR PRELEUN PHUME PHU PHUMKCRS PRESL PRTER PGOF PARK PGOVSOCI PTERPREL PGOVEAID PGOVPHUMKPAO PINSKISL PREZ PGOVAF PARMEUN PECON PINL POGOV PGOVLO PIERRE PRELPHUM PGOVPZ PGOVKCRM PBST PKPAO PHUMHUPPS PGOVPOL PASS PPGOV PROGV PAGR PHALANAGE PARTY PRELID PGOVID PHUMR PHSAQ PINRAMGT PSA PRELM PRELMU PIA PINRPE PBTSRU PARMIR PEDRO PNUK PVPR PINOCHET PAARM PRFE PRELEIN PINF PCI PSEPC PGOVSU PRLE PDIP PHEM PRELB PORG PGGOC POLG POPDC PGOVPM PWMN PDRG PHUMK PINB PRELAL PRER PFIN PNRG PRED POLI PHUMBO PHYTRP PROLIFERATION PHARM PUOS PRHUM PUNR PENA PGOVREL PETRAEUS PGOVKDEM PGOVENRG PHUS PRESIDENT PTERKU PRELKSUMXABN PGOVSI PHUMQHA PKISL PIR PGOVZI PHUMIZNL PKNP PRELEVU PMIN PHIM PHUMBA PUBLIC PHAM PRELKPKO PMR PARTM PPREL PN PROL PDA PGOVECON PKBL PKEAID PERM PRELEZ PRELC PER PHJM PGOVPRELPINRBN PRFL PLN PWBG PNG PHUMA PGOR PHUMPTER POLINT PPEF PKPAL PNNL PMARR PAC PTIA PKDEM PAUL PREG PTERR PTERPRELPARMPGOVPBTSETTCEAIRELTNTC PRELJA POLS PI PNS PAREL PENV PTEROREP PGOVM PINER PBGT PHSAUNSC PTERDJ PRELEAID PARMIN PKIR PLEC PCRM PNET PARR PRELETRD PRELBN PINRTH PREJ PEACEKEEPINGFORCES PEMEX PRELZ PFLP PBPTS PTGOV PREVAL PRELSW PAUM PRF PHUMKDEM PATRICK PGOVKMCAPHUMBN PRELA PNUM PGGV PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA PBT PIND PTEP PTERKS PGOVJM PGOT PRELMARR PGOVCU PREV PREFF PRWL PET PROB PRELPHUMP PHUMAF PVTS PRELAFDB PSNR PGOVECONPRELBU PGOVZL PREP PHUMPRELBN PHSAPREL PARCA PGREV PGOVDO PGON PCON PODC PRELOV PHSAK PSHA PGOVGM PRELP POSCE PGOVPTER PHUMRU PINRHU PARMR PGOVTI PPEL PMAT PAN PANAM PGOVBO PRELHRC

Browse by classification

Community resources

courage is contagious

Viewing cable 09CARACAS1551, VENEZUELA'S MEDICAL SYSTEM IN DISARRAY AS GBRV SHIFTS

If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs

Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:
  • The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
  • The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
  • The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.
To understand the justification used for the classification of each cable, please use this WikiSource article as reference.

Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #09CARACAS1551.
Reference ID Created Released Classification Origin
09CARACAS1551 2009-12-14 14:32 2011-08-30 01:44 CONFIDENTIAL Embassy Caracas
VZCZCXRO5389
RR RUEHAO RUEHCD RUEHGD RUEHHO RUEHMC RUEHNG RUEHNL RUEHRD RUEHRS
RUEHTM
DE RUEHCV #1551/01 3481433
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 141432Z DEC 09
FM AMEMBASSY CARACAS
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0140
INFO WESTERN HEMISPHERIC AFFAIRS DIPL POSTS
RHEHAAA/NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHINGTON DC
RHMFISS/HQ USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHINGTON DC
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHINGTON DC
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 04 CARACAS 001551

SIPDIS
HQ SOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD
TREASURY FOR MKACZMAREK
NSC FOR DRESTREPO
NSC FOR LROSSELLO
USDOC FOR 4332 MAC/ITA/WH/JLAO
AMEMBASSY BRIDGETOWN PASS TO AMEMBASSY GRENADA
AMEMBASSY OTTAWA PASS TO AMCONSUL QUEBEC
AMEMBASSY BRASILIA PASS TO AMCONSUL RECIFE

E.O. 12958: DECL: 2019/12/14
TAGS: ECON ELAB HURI PGOV VE
SUBJECT: VENEZUELA'S MEDICAL SYSTEM IN DISARRAY AS GBRV SHIFTS
RESOURCES TO BARRIO ADENTRO

REF: CARACAS 1374; CARACAS 1256

CLASSIFIED BY: DUDDY, AMBASSADOR, DOS, AMB; REASON: 1.4(B), (D)

1. (C) SUMMARY: Venezuelan doctors have accused the Venezuelan
Government (GBRV) of politicizing health care at the expense of the
health of Venezuelans. In recent months, protests have paralyzed
hospitals across Venezuela as doctors and patients have complained
of shortages of medical supplies, delays in hospital renovations
and unpaid wages and benefits. Observers describe public hospitals
as increasingly dangerous places where underpaid, undersupplied,
and understaffed doctors struggle to provide medical services to
Venezuela's poor. Critics say that the GBRV has created a parallel
medical system-"Barrio Adentro"-that has sucked resources away from
the traditional hospital network and reduced the overall quality of
medical services. The GBRV has suspended doctors for speaking out
about the crisis while giving former military officers and
community councils a greater role in hospital administration. On
November 29, President Chavez announced plans to eliminate a
government health care benefit that pays for public workers to
receive health care at private clinics, a move that would place
even greater strain on already overburdened public hospitals. END
SUMMARY.



HOSPTIAL CRISIS SPREADS ACROSS THE COUNTRY



2. (SBU) In recent months, newspapers across Venezuela have
carried daily reports of a growing crisis in the public hospitals.
On November 30, for example, "Notitarde" published reports of a
vigil by patients and doctors to protest shortages of medicines and
supplies at the Enrique Tejera Hospital; on December 1, Ciudad
Guayana's "Correo del Caroni" covered the "technical closure" of
the Negra Hipolita Maternity Ward after the breakdown of the air
conditioning system raised concerns that the heat would increase
bacteria levels in the incubators for newborn babies; and on
December 4, the daily "El Universal" reported that doctors in
Merida had shut down the University Hospital of Los Andes (HULA)
due to medical supply shortages, pronouncing the hospital "dead."



DOCTORS PROTEST DETERIORATION OF PUBLIC HOSPITALS



3. (SBU) On November 18, in a development representative of the
breakdown of public hospitals across the country, the Jesus Yerena
de Lidice Hospital shut down after 140 physicians announced their
mass resignation. Lidice is one of the two largest and most
important public hospitals in the impoverished Catia municipality
of Caracas; it serves a poor and marginalized community that
otherwise has little access to health care.



4. (SBU) For over three months, Lidice's patients and doctors have
protested shortages of medical supplies, delays in the renovation
of hospital wards, and unpaid wages and benefits. But the conflict
escalated on November 16, when the Health Ministry suspended four
of Lidice's doctors after charging them with inciting protests
among the patients. Lidice's doctors resigned en masse after the
Health Ministry refused to reinstate the four suspended doctors and
resume negotiations over salary payments and benefits owed since
2007. The resignations paralyzed Lidice, leaving only two
doctors-an internal specialist and a surgeon-to care for the
remaining patients.



5. (SBU) Although Lidice reopened on November 20 after the Health
and Labor Ministry agreed to reinstate the four suspended
physicians and resume negotiations over other demands, the

CARACAS 00001551 002 OF 004


emergency pediatrics unit and maternity ward remain closed for
renovation. The maternity ward of the Lidice hospital-considered
the second most important in Caracas for many years-has now been
closed for two years, while Catia's other major public hospital,
Los Magallanes Jose Gregorio Hernandez, has been partially closed
for over a year while awaiting renovation.



PUBLIC HOSPITALS ARE DANGEROUS, UNDERSUPPLIED, AND UNDERSTAFFED



6. (C) During a private meeting on November 10,
XXXXXXXXXXXX, a health reporter for the "El Universal"
newspaper, described the public hospitals as increasingly dangerous
places, where underpaid, undersupplied, and understaffed doctors
work in unsanitary conditions to provide medical services to
Venezuela's poor. Due to shortages of basic medical supplies,
doctors ask patients to purchase their own needles, disinfectants
and gauze. XXXXXXXXXXXX told EmbOffs that doctors sometimes dress wounds
with the same dirty bandages. Other patients are told to bring
their own X-rays from private clinics. As in many areas of
Caracas, public hospitals suffer from water shortages, forcing
doctors to postpone important operations. In some of the older
public hospitals, the plumbing systems cannot pump water above the
first few floors of the building.



7. (C) XXXXXXXXXXXX estimated that medical residents in public hospitals
make an average of 2,000 bolivars (BsF) per month (USD 930 at the
official rate of 2.15 BsF to the dollar). According to XXXXXXXXXXXX, over
fifty percent of the resident doctors move to the capital from
other parts of the country, and their salary is barely enough to
cover rent in Caracas, where an austere apartment in a dangerous
neighbourhood can easily cost 1,800 bolivars per month.
Consequently, many doctors have left the public hospitals in search
of other jobs, while some of the most qualified have left the
country to earn better salaries abroad. In a December 4 press
report, the Venezuelan Medical Federation (FMV) estimated that the
public hospitals are understaffed by 43 percent.



8. (C) Crime has further contributed to the flight of doctors from
the public sector. XXXXXXXXXXXX said that criminals go to the public
hospitals to rob, steal, and even kill patients. The emergency
room in Hospital Vargas is only open for twelve hours-between seven
in the morning and seven at night-because of security concerns. In
October, a shootout in the emergency room of the Los Magallanes de
Catia hospital killed two people. Although the Ministry of Health
has promised to send more guards to protect the hospitals, in many
cases the additional security has not arrived.



SEE NO EVIL, HEAR NO EVIL, SPEAK NO EVIL



9. (C) On November 17, XXXXXXXXXXXX told EconOff that the GBRV has
suspended doctors to discourage them from speaking out about the
health care crisis. Last year four doctors were suspended when
they exposed the accidental death of six babies in a maternity
ward. According to XXXXXXXXXXXX, the GBRV has limited the role of the
resident doctors in hospital management and transferred authority
to local community councils. XXXXXXXXXXXX said that community council
members meet with hospital directors to discuss renovation
proposals. On November 10, the director for the Vargas Hospital of
Caracas, Francisco Hernandez, told the press that he had to present
the hospital's renovation proposals to the community councils
before sending them to the Health Ministry and President Chavez for
approval.

CARACAS 00001551 003 OF 004


BARRIO ADENTRO DRAINS RESOURCES FROM PUBLIC HOSPITALS



10. (C) XXXXXXXXXXXX told EmbOffs that the quality of health care in the
public hospitals has deteriorated as the GBRV has redirected
resources to "Barrio Adentro," a program staffed by the Cuban
Government that provides free medical services in poor areas (Ref
A). Although "Barrio Adentro" has translated into political gains
for President Chavez, its medical impact is questionable, despite
having received massive government investment (Note: The GBRV spent
approximately USD 5.6 billion on Cuban medical assistance,
training, medicines, vaccines, and other services in 2008,
according to one estimate. See Ref A for further analysis of
Barrio Adentro. End Note.). While Chavez has acknowledged a
"crisis" in "Barrio Adentro" and announced a sweeping campaign to
revitalize the program, neither President Chavez nor his ministers
have announced new plans for additional investment in the
traditional public hospital system.



11. (C) On October 5, the President of the Venezuelan Medical
Federation (FMV) XXXXXXXXXXXX told EmbOffs that
the health care problem is primarily political.
According to XXXXXXXXXXXX, the GBRV has focused resources on the
development of a parallel medical system-"Barrio Adentro" -that has
sucked investment away from the hospitals and the traditional
medical infrastructure to the detriment of the health of
Venezuelans. At the same time, the GBRV has appointed military
professionals with no medical background to important positions in
the Ministry of Health. XXXXXXXXXXXX said that there is "anarchy" in the
Ministry of Health, pointing out that the GBRV has released health
statistics just four times in the last 14 months. FMV Vice
XXXXXXXXXXXX added that vaccination rates have
decreased dramatically over the past several years.



12. (C) While the GBRV has prioritized "Barrio Adentro" over the
traditional medical system, Venezuelans seem to prefer public
hospitals or private clinics. On October 9, XXXXXXXXXXXX
told EmbOffs that the majority of Venezuelans
continue to receive medical care in public hospitals or private
clinics rather than "Barrio Adentro." XXXXXXXXXXXX cited a 2006 study
by a team of European Union analysts that measured the use of
health services by sector (i.e., public hospitals, private clinics,
or "Barrio Adentro") and confirmed that poorer Venezuelans were
more likely to receive medical care in public hospitals than
"Barrio Adentro."



CHAVEZ THREATENS TO ELIMINATE PRIVATE HEALTH INSURANCE BENEFIT



13. (SBU) On November 29, in a move that further illustrated GBRV
efforts to strengthen "Barrio Adentro" as an alternative to the
traditional medical system, Chavez announced his intention to
eliminate the hospitalization, surgery, and maternity (HCM) benefit
that public sector employees use to pay for health care at private
clinics. During a broadcast of the "Hello, President" radio and
television program, Chavez said that the HCM benefit supported the
"bourgeoisie" owners of private clinics and that public employees
should instead use "Barrio Adentro's" network of Integral
Diagnostic Centers. In press reports the following day, public
employees in the petroleum, iron, steel, and aluminum sectors
protested the announcement (Note: According to one press report,
sixty percent of the 12 million Venezuelans with health insurance
work in the public sector. End Note.). Critics pointed out that
the private clinics offer medical services that "Barrio Adentro"

CARACAS 00001551 004 OF 004


does not provide, and that the public hospitals do not have the
capacity to absorb a massive influx of new patients from the
private clinics. On September 23, deputies for the pro-Chavez
United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) told EmbOffs that
changes to the medical insurance system would be imposed
progressively given the sensitivity of the issue (Ref B).



COMMENT



14. (C) The quality of health care in Venezuela has declined as
the GBRV has shifted resources from the traditional medical system
to "Barrio Adentro." Resource-starved public hospitals are
beginning to show the effects of years of neglect. Mismanagement
has increased as military officers and community council
members-usually with little previous experience in health care-have
assumed a greater role in the administration of public hospitals.
At the same time, the hospitals suffer from the same problems that
plague the rest of Venezuelan society, including the deterioration
of infrastructure, an increase in crime, and the flight of the
professional class. Despite these issues, President Chavez and
other members of his cabinet have not publicly acknowledged the
deterioration of the public hospitals or announced any new plans to
revitalize them. To the extent that President Chavez has
acknowledged Venezuela's health care crisis, the GBRV has looked to
"Barrio Adentro" and Cuba-and not the public hospitals-as the
solution.



15. (C) Meanwhile, "Barrio Adentro" has not proven to be a viable
substitute for the public hospitals despite massive GBRV attention
and investment. Indeed, the evidence suggests that all classes of
Venezuelans continue to prefer public hospitals to "Barrio
Adentro," even as the quality of medical services in the former has
deteriorated. The popular preference for public hospitals means
that the traditional medical system must treat a growing number of
patients with dwindling resources, a problem that will only
intensify if the GBRV decides to eliminate the health care benefit
for public employees, forcing them out of the private clinics and
into the public hospitals. Another possible consequence is the
risk that the GBRV will look to expropriate private sector medical
facilities.
DUDDY