(QCostarica) At 78 years of age, Amado Serrano Alvarado, hopes his testicular problem will not worsen and that he can make it to his medical appointment with the urologist at the Clínica Alfredo Volio, in Cartago, on February 12, 2021.
Serrano, a resident of Cachí, Paraiso de Cartago, was a farm labourer all his life and is not the only case of having to wait years for an appointment at a State clinic.
Recently, the Constitutional Court (Sala IV) ordered the Clínica Solón Núñez, in Hatillo (San Jose), to advance the ultrasound breast exam for a woman scheduled in 2020.
Krisia Diaz Valverde, director of the Max Peralta Hospital (in Cartago) where the Volio clinic is located, said by email to La Nacion that the Urology department is one with more limitations in the country. In the case of the Cartago hospital, in the last two months has had only three urologists to meet the needs of more than 500,000 inhabitants.
According to Diaz, the hospital is working to reducing the waiting time, applying measures such as opening an outpatient department, purchasing new equipment and looking to hire more medical staff.
As to Serrano’s case, Diaz has asked the patient or a family member to send in the original appointment receipt so that it can be evaluated by the head of services and schedule an appointment at an “optimal date” for the patient.
