Retired oil workers protest as Oaxaca's women's hospital faces critical shortages

Retired oil workers in Juchitán have staged a protest outside the Oaxacan Women’s and Children’s Hospital. They highlighted severe shortages of medications, lab supplies, and specialist doctors that are disrupting patient care. The hospital, built to reduce maternal mortality, now faces growing operational challenges. The Oaxacan Women’s and Children’s Hospital was established to tackle high maternal death rates in the region. With a 120-bed capacity, it includes outpatient clinics and a triage unit. But doctors have warned that a lack of specialists is creating dangerous gaps in treatment.

Severely ill patients often need transfers to other hospitals because the facility cannot provide the necessary care. Protesters also raised concerns over delays in reimbursing travel costs for these transfers, adding financial strain to families.

The demonstration brought together retired oil workers and medical staff, who demanded urgent action to restore essential supplies and fill specialist vacancies. The protest underscores ongoing struggles at a hospital designed to save lives. Without more specialists and reliable supplies, patient transfers and care delays will likely continue. Authorities have yet to respond to the demands for immediate improvements.