Renowned cardiologist with a political career in the Broad Front and in medical unionism, Dr. Enrique Soto, who contracted coronavirus a few weeks ago, died on Tuesday, at the age of 65. The man designated by colleagues as “a doctor who accompanied thousands of patients” and by politicians as “a person who asked for nothing in return for his delivery” was a promoter of the health reform implemented during the first government of Tabaré Vázquez (2005 -2010), embraced the fight against smoking and led the separation of Casmu from the Medical Union of Uruguay (SMU).
Although, in the first instance, he consulted his mutual insurance company for an asthmatic condition, the routine swab established two weeks ago that he is infected with coronavirus and his health has deteriorated since the weekend. Early Tuesday morning, the SMU Fosalba group announced that its former leader and head of Cardiology in Casmu died in Montevideo amid escalating infections in the capital.
Passionate about medicine and literature, during his career he was also president of the Uruguayan Society of Cardiology, led the National Resource Fund and was vice president of the State Health Services Administration (ASSE) during the Beatriz Silva administration.
Former SMU president Julio Trostchansky, a list partner of his 15-year-old colleague, stressed in a dialogue with Observatory that Soto “does not have to be part of the academic world to excel in modern cardiology practice” and stated that he is one of those professionals who “has accompanied thousands of patients for years and was well loved.”
National fan, in his program also took place both in the exercise of the profession and in his political activity, the fight against cigarettes.
Soto led the Tobacco Control Program and in 2016 was one of the main spokesmen for the Frente Amplio government to celebrate the international lawsuit the Uruguayan state won against Philipp Morris. He also promoted the implementation of a box of flat cigarettes to limit the distinction between brands and fiscal policies compared to tobacco marketing.
The tobacco company sued Uruguay in February 2010 for alleged damages arising from regulations that Vázquez implemented as a way to combat tobacco use. Philip Morris claimed that Uruguay had violated several points of the country’s bilateral investment treaty with Switzerland since 1998, but the ruling of the International Center for the Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) ratified Uruguay’s health policy and indicated also that the tobacco company has to pay $ 7 million in lawyers’ fees and costs.
In the medical field, Soto promoted the constant updating of knowledge and was in favor of recertification of professionals, as a way of measuring skills in the face of advances in medicine. “I remember that in his offices he always had the latest articles on medical cardiology with journals or reports on the specialty,” Trostchansky said.
Political life: FA and Fosalba
In Frente Amplio, Soto was a member of the Christian Democratic Party, and in 1989, after the group split from the left-wing coalition, he joined Vertiente Artiguista, where he served on the sector’s health commission and was an alternate senator.
“He has contributed his experiences as a humanist to the development of the Integrated Health System, one of the flagships of the progressive government. He never asked for anything in return for his delivery. I practice the rhetoric of the post and teach the humanist service “, recalled the former Minister of Tourism from the Broad Front Héctor Lescano in a post on Facebook.
While Socialist Senator Daniel Olesker described him as “a builder of health care reform,” both Health Minister Lobbyist Daniel Salinas and National Health Director Miguel Asqueta whitewashed Soto in their networks. social.
We regret the death of our fellow cardiologist Dr. Enrique Soto, a prominent physician, leader and member of the union. Expressing condolences to his wife, children and grandchildren. A good person left.
– Daniel Salinas (@DrDanielSalinas) December 15, 2020
He also played an important role in the doctors’ union policy. “He was one of those leaders who combined union activity and a very prominent professional activity. He was one of those doctors who practiced the profession and this exercise allowed the problem to be transferred to the fields of medical representation and to propose solutions “, Trostchansky recalled.
The current president of Casmu, Raúl Rodríguez, met Soto 30 years ago at the late Pasteur mutual society, where one was a cardiologist and the other an emergency doctor. A few years later, the faces were seen again in Casmu and in the trade union activity, representing different medical currents.
One of the moments they shared as directors was in 2009, when, in the midst of an institutional crisis, Casmu split from the Medical Union.
Rodriguez recalled that in this case and in other cases, despite the differences, the cardiologist “acted very well as a mediator.” “We may not agree, because we are in different positions, but there was the possibility of reaching agreements to move things forward,” he said, recalling that the reference Fosalba was vice president of Casmu and he was treasurer.
The Fosalba group, the majority line in the current SMU management, declared on Twitter that the cardiologist “was part of the history and the very essence of the group”. Meanwhile, in 2016 the union awarded him the union and professional merit.
Before his death, the family called those closest to him to avoid sending wreaths. Instead, they demanded that this money be used for the popular Huracán del Paso de la Arena vessel *.
His son Marcos Soto, director of UCU Business School, said goodbye to a letter and an endless hug.
This space would not be enough to thank so many demonstrations of affection and recognition that I received today all day for the departure of my old man.
For the time being, I have been a prisoner of my silences, the cost of words I did not say in time.
Don’t save anything! pic.twitter.com/oRrjxgBgB3
– Marcos Soto (@marcossotouy) December 16, 2020
* Funds are received in Abitab account 114089.