Análisis del proceso de adquisición de insumos y dispositivos médicos en las Casas de Salud del IESS, caso : Hospital General Portoviejo.

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to analyze the procurement process for medical supplies and devices at the Portoviejo General Hospital (HGP), which is part of the Ecuadorian Social Security Institute. To achieve this objective, a qualitative, non-experimental study was conducted in which there was no direct intervention by the researcher; thus, the true implications of the phenomenon under study were described in its natural context. The scope of the research was descriptive and cross-sectional. The data collection technique employed was the semi-structured group interview, administered to the 15 members of the hospital’s technical committee, who constitute the study’s entire sample given their direct involvement in the procurement processes. The data obtained were processed using qualitative content analysis, identifying thematic categories based on the participants’ responses. The results showed that there is no schedule of activities, a lack of coordination between the technical committee and the pharmacology committee, evidence of recurring budget shortfalls, insufficient tracking of procured supplies, and a lack of transparency in the procurement process. This reflects systemic deficiencies that impact the continuity of supply and the quality of patient care. It was concluded that the HGP was not immune to the negative effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, which exacerbated preexisting weaknesses in the supply of medical supplies and devices; therefore, an urgent and structured change in its institutional procurement process is required.