Professional associations of bioanalysts and nurses in Venezuela are reporting a concerning trend: the increasing reliance on private healthcare providers within public hospitals. Due to a critical lack of supplies and equipment in state-run medical centers, patients’ families are being forced to cover significant costs – ranging from hundreds to thousands of dollars – to receive necessary treatments. This situation effectively opens space for private companies to operate within the public system, as public hospital laboratories and services lose capacity. The lack of resources compromises the quality of care available to Venezuelans seeking treatment at public facilities. This growing dependence on private funding exacerbates existing inequalities in access to healthcare within the country. The issue highlights a deepening crisis in Venezuela’s public healthcare infrastructure and a shift towards a more privatized model of care. The original report comes from EL NACIONAL.