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Published Thursday, May 21, 2020 Pandemic
delays thousands of
medical appointments and surgeries By the A.M. Costa Rica staff According to the estimates made by Social Security on Wednesday, since the first confirmed cases of people infected with covid-19 in March to May 10, there are 675, 895 medical appointments plus 41,427 surgeries canceled. In the case of surgeries, Social Security estimates that 18,780 minor surgeries could not be performed, and 22,647 more complex surgeries were canceled. Of these 3,547 cardiology medical appointments were canceled, and 699 medical appointments in gynecology were suspended. “The country is still undergoing very difficult times due to the pandemic and we cannot let our guard down, but Social Security is a comprehensive institution that has a clear mission to provide care to those who need it, and that is why we are designing a plan that will allow us to resume what that was suspended when the emergency began, but without missing care by covid-19,” said Román Macaya-Hayes, president of Social Security. Authorities are working to develop a plan for the recovery of canceled appointments, surgeries and medical procedures. But, the plan is depending on how covid-19 continues to develop in the country. Surgeries will be rescheduled according to the level of risk. In other words, appointments for simple surgeries, laboratory services, dental consultation, among others, will be reprogrammed first. Face-to-face patient medical appointments will be substituted by a virtual medical consultation through a video call between the patient and the doctor, known as a telehealth. The health institution announced that it will develop an advertising campaign to inform the population about the plan to reactivate medical services, rescheduling appointments and reprogramming surgeries. The reactivation of medical services will depend on the evolution of the covid-19 in the country, said Social Security. ------------------------- Have you experienced a telehealth appointment because of the pandemic? We would like to know your thoughts on this story. Send your comments to news@amcostarica.com |
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