On July 10th, the Executive Branch announced that it will increase the financing of oncological treatments. The Minister of Health, Rodolfo Rocabado, indicated that they will promote, in the coming days, the purchase of a package of oncological drugs for children and will invest in radiotherapy equipment for the La Paz Hospital. These measures were announced after patient associations denounced a critical emptying of cancer care. At the same time, Wilson Santamaría (Unidad Democrática-opposition) introduced this month to the Plurinational Assembly, a bill of extraordinary financing for the construction of oncological centers, with a view to providing the country with new health centers adapted to the disease.

Last week, the Health Minister announced that the negotiations for the construction of a new radiotherapy unit for the La Paz Hospital, to answer the main demand of cancer patients who have been protesting for several weeks, are almost closed. Furthermore, the director of the Ministry of Health`s National Program of Fight against Cancer, Sdenka Maury, reported that on July 13th the first part of a oncological drugs purchase for children arrived, after complaints of shortages by officials of the Child`s Hospital in La Paz. The official urged the health establishments to inform in a timely manner about the requirement of drugs to avoid future supply problems.

For its part, the Unidad Democrática opposition deputy , Wilson Santamaría, presented on July 2nd a bill that seeks to ensure an investment of 40 million dollars to build five new oncological hospitals with the newest technologies against cancer in La Paz, El Alto, Cochabamba, Potosí and Tarija. Being a bill of an opposition party, its progress can be slowed by the ruling party. However it is not ruled out that it will be debated in the coming months.