Bolivia sets the prices of Private Clinics for the care of patients with COVID-19

The Bolivian Health portfolio has issued a ministerial order this Thursday that sets the rates for private clinics for COVID-19 treatments, which may not exceed the stipulated reference prices by 5 percent, and may be those responsible for these centers criminally prosecuted if they fail to comply with said regulations.

The Bolivian Health portfolio has issued a ministerial order this Thursday that sets the rates for private clinics for COVID-19 treatments, which may not exceed the stipulated reference prices by 5 percent, and may be those responsible for these centers criminally prosecuted if they fail to comply with said regulations.

The decree also contemplates the regulation of the prices of coronavirus tests, which must range between 60 and 150 Bolivianos (7-18 euros), as well as the rest of the medical tests that are needed during treatment, such as the use of mechanical ventilation, set at 755 bolivianos (90 euros) for every 24 hours, or hemodialysis in acute cases, which should not exceed 1,200 bolivianos (approximately 145 euros), among others.

Admission to one of these centers with comprehensive care for every 24 hours in intensive care has been set at 3,324 Bolivians (about 400 euros); in intermediate care, 2,604 Bolivians (312 euros); and in primary care, 1,137 Bolivians (about 160 euros).

The base prices for the surgeries of those patients admitted to intensive care are 5,484 Bolivians (660 euros), while the smaller surgeries between 3,510 and 4,472 Bolivians (420-540 euros).

All these rates start as references, so clinics must establish their prices as long as they are not more than 5 percent above those decreed by the Ministry of Health.

The departmental health services of each Governorate will be in charge of approving the prices set by private clinics, as long as they comply with the regulations of the portfolio led by Jeyson Auza, according to the ministerial resolution.

So far, the Bolivian Ministry of Health has confirmed 210,726 accumulated cases, of which 155,722 are hospital discharges and 10,226 deaths.

The Government has confirmed, on the other hand, that this Thursday they have received the first 20,000 doses of the Russian vaccine, Sputnik V, against COVID-19, within a purchase agreement of 5.2 million doses.