Twin earthquakes struck Venezuela on June 24, 2026, causing major damage in Caracas and a nearby coastal city, La Guaira. At the time of publication, 3,685 people have been declared dead, and more than 30,000 remain missing.
Venezuelan Healthcare System
Dr. Hermes Florez and Dr. Zeina Hannoush, physicians who trained in Venezuela and now teach medicine in the United States, discussed the earthquake and its aftermath, as well as the need to reform Venezuela’s healthcare system. According to Dr. Florez, fewer than 10% of Venezuelans can afford private hospitals or clinics, and approximately 70% of the population is impoverished, relying on under-resourced public hospitals.
Dr. Hannoush described the standard of practice in Venezuela, where patients often need to bring their own supplies, including blankets, pillows, and food, to public hospitals. This highlights the severe lack of resources in the country’s healthcare system.
Aid Efforts and Future Hope
Despite the challenges, Dr. Florez remains hopeful for the future of Venezuela, citing the potential for Venezuelans in other countries to provide resources and training to help improve the healthcare system. Dr. Hannoush has been working to help get donations to the correct hospitals and colleagues in Venezuela.
Original reporting: KTBS 3 (Shreveport) — read the source article.
