FASEC And Hospital Santa Ines Renew Five-Year Palliative Care Agreement

FASEC and Hospital Santa Ines have renewed a five-year cooperation agreement for palliative care in Cuenca.

The agreement supports the Fundación al Servicio del Enfermo de Cáncer, known as FASEC, and its work with patients who have terminal-stage illnesses. For families dealing with a serious diagnosis, this is one of those local health stories that matters quietly but deeply.

What The Agreement Covers

The renewed agreement is meant to strengthen integral care and palliative services for patients in terminal phases of illness.

Hospital Santa Ines said it will continue technical, medical and nursing support for FASEC. Bruno Ledesma, the hospital's manager, said the first alliance began after the COVID-19 pandemic and allowed many patients to be served during the last five years.

FASEC president Sofia Venegas said the foundation operates the only palliative-care unit in the Austro ecuatoriano.

Current Capacity

The unit has capacity for 25 patients and is operating near 80% occupancy, according to Venegas. Patients come from both the public and private systems and have different comorbidities.

The agreement includes medical care, nursing, psychological support, social work, occupational therapy and grief support for families.

FASEC has been sustained for 45 years by citizens, private companies and the work of 25 volunteers.

How People Access Services

People interested in these services must present their cédula and a certificate or clinical history so the medical and social-work team can evaluate the case.

FASEC says the goal is for a family's economic situation not to become an obstacle to specialized care.

Source: El Mercurio