As the health crisis worsens in Venezuela, doctors are beginning to resort to older procedures in response to shortages of medicine, medical supplies and replacement parts. Oncologists have resorted to radical mastectomies for breast cancer patients as most of the country's radiology machines do not work.

The Associated Press found that Venezuelan doctors are begrudgingly opting to perform radical mastectomies on breast cancer patients, as resources for radiation treatments are scarce. Oncologist Dr. Gabriel Romero, of Caracas' Dr. Luis Razetti Oncology Center, estimates around 70 percent of breast cancer patients undergo the operation.

"You don't feel comfortable with it, because you're making a decision that goes against your professional judgment," he explained. The clinic's sole linear accelerator machine, a modern radiotherapy machine, has been broken down since November.

"We're practicing medicine from the 1940s here, and we know that's not right," Dr. Romero said.

However, cancer patients are not the only ones suffering. Medicos por la Salud (Doctors for Health), a Venezuelan NGO monitoring the health crisis, reports that 44 percent of the country's surgeries are inoperative, according to Voz de America. Also, 86 percent of the country's radiotherapy machines are inoperable.

This is because parts cannot be bought to repair or replace the faulty machines, according to the AP. Venezuela, which provides free health care to all its citizens, continues to suffer from economic stagnation and a 68 percent inflation rate. Its economy depends almost exclusively on oil exports, which have plummeted, as the price of oil remains low.

As a result, Venezuelans suffer. The government needs to release funds to the Venezuelan medical supply association so that it can purchase spare parts and new machines. It had asked in March for $250 million out of the $1 billion it needs but has yet to receive any.

The Maduro administration has not addressed the issue directly, accusing the U.S. and right-wing elements within the country of waging an economic war against the socialist nation.

On March 16, President Nicolas Maduro appointed a new health minister, Henry Ventura, according to el Universal, as well as announced a new food distribution plan.

The new health minister showcased a group of health officials "who are making great efforts to defend the model of free quality and timely health care," according to a press release. Ventura explained at the meeting that his office is overseeing state plans to alleviate the health crisis.

In other press releases, the health ministry showed Minister Ventura visiting medicine distribution centers and supplies but has not revealed any plan to alleviate the economic trouble in which Venezuela's health system finds itself.

Medicos por la Salud follows the situation on Twitter, posting updates from all over the country and informing Venezuelans on which hospitals have run out of supplies or cannot perform certain procedures. Most of the reasons are because medical instruments are faulty.

The AP found that the company contracted to supply Venezuela with linear accelerators has not had access to funds since October.

Breast cancer, according to the Pan American Health Organization, is the most common cancer among women in the Americas and a report found Venezuela has a high death rate of breast cancer patients.