The lack of supplies to undertake surgeries forced to suspend laparoscopic surgeries, in Hospital Arnulfo Arias Madrid, amid criticism due to the celebration of a party and the purchase of a luxury SUV for the Director the Social Security Fund (CSS), Estivenson Giron.
In a letter addressed to general medical director of the Hospital, Miguel Guerra, the head of the operations room, Juan Redway, communicated "due to lack of supplies to be able to undertake laparoscopic surgeries they regret being involuntarily obliged to suspend surgeries until obtaining the corresponding supplies.
However, this did not prevent the CSS director, Estivenson Giron, from buying a pickup truck of $110 thousand and carrying out a costly party for the 75 years of the entity.
Even yesterday it was known that Giron is in contempt of the National Assembly, since four months ago he was summoned to go and render account by suggestion.
Legislator of the Revolutionary Democratic Party (PRD) Samir Gozaine said Giron has not sent a note stating on what date he will be appearing at the Assembly to answer a questionnaire of ten questions already sent to him.
Gozaine said in Telemetro that this is the right time to reiterate this writ of summons, bearing in mind that director Giron is being questioned for the purchase of a luxury car when amid the economic difficulties of the CSS.
As a result, former Director of the Fund, John Jované, said that he does not understand how a director of the CSS does not attend the writ of summons by a body that represents all citizens.
"The very fact that he will not attend is a sign that he does not want to answer questions; what kind of director is that, in the history of Panama we have not seen that a director does not converse with members", stressed Jované.
According to Jované, sanctions are not very clear, because it is the Board of Directors of the CSS which is empowered to impeach him, and the National Assembly has little chance of generating some kind of sanction for non-attendance.
"This is totally irregular." "This evidences presidentialism, where officials may say: “I won't go”, if they don´t want to and with so much strength so that the Assembly does not have power", said Jované.
Although lawyer Ernesto Cedeño states that while he cannot be taken by the police order to the full of the legislative, members may appoint a lawyer so that he can be criminally convicted at the Public Prosecutor's Office due to omission of functions.
"The regulation says that if a person does not attend at the permanent work commissions, they may take you with the police and even prosecute you; but article 215 of the regulation does not establish the penalties" said Cedeño.
He added that maybe this is why some officials will not attend the Assembly when they are summoned. "You can appoint Commission to denounce someone such as in the case of Gioconda Torres de Bianchini, former Comptroller."
Commentaries
•Complaint
•In September of 2014, the National Assembly sent the Supreme Court of Justice a request of attendance for Comptroller Gioconda Torres de Bianchini after an agreement from the benches representing the Government asking that the possible commission of a crime be investigated.
•Questions
•In 2015, Estivensosn Giron answered a questionnaire related to problems such as the lack of supplies, attention to the insured people, delays in surgical interventions, among others in the Assembly.
