By Mariluz Florian
Some patients at the Dr. Heriberto Pieter Oncology Institute face high costs for medical procedures not covered by their insurance while undergoing cancer treatment. Despite these difficulties, many highlight the care and support they receive from the health center’s staff.
Patients leaving the Oncology Hospital.
Patients complain about the slowness with which the National Health Insurance (SeNaSa) authorizes the procedures necessary to treat their illnesses, especially those who live in the interior of the country, who also face long distances and economic limitations.
The long wait has become a real order for Mereces Evangelista Vásquez, a diabetic patient with breast cancer, who was unable to have the tests done at the laboratory of the aforementioned health center because the insurance company did not complete the necessary procedures to correct some documents in time.
«They’re slow with the process, they’re so slow. Look, today I couldn’t get a test they told me to get done because the time for it passed. I had to get a lab test done before nine in the morning , so they had to sort out my paperwork. Now I have to look for a ticket again so I can come back,» said Mercedes, visibly distressed.
For Vásquez, traveling to receive his chemotherapy treatments represents a significant challenge, due to the weakness and mobility problems he faces.
Adding to the anxiety of the diagnosis is the delay in the insurance paperwork, which often doubles the cost of transportation when you have to return to the health center to repeat the tests from the previous day.
«Every time I come here, I spend a thousand pesos without being able to afford it, to pay for a taxi, because I can’t walk ,» Evangelista explained to reporters from El Día, while using the walker he uses to get around.
Patients outside the Dr. Heriberto Pieter Cancer Institute.
María Núñez, another cancer patient who visits the health center weekly, faces financial difficulties in affording some medications and denounces the long waits she must endure while SeNaSa processes her procedures.
«The only bad service is SeNaSa. They take too long. The system often crashes and it takes ages , and you have to wait. We’ve left here as late as 9:30 at night, even though we arrived at five in the morning. The service at the Oncology Center is better than SeNaSa,» Núñez said while waiting in the waiting area.
Some procedures are not covered by insurance.
Diogeris’ sister, who suffers from liver cancer, indicated that it has been a challenge for the family to cover the costs of some procedures that are not covered by insurance.
«There are procedures like biopsies that are expensive and can cost 15,000 or 16,000 pesos, and insurance doesn’t necessarily cover them. She has contributory SeNaSa insurance and they performed a biopsy that cost 15,800 pesos, and it wasn’t covered. She has a liver condition , and they had to drain fluid to perform the procedure, and that cost 16,000 pesos, and it wasn’t covered either,» the relative said, his face showing concern, clearly affected by his sister’s condition.
Patients value the services of the Oncology Center
Patients in the waiting room of the Oncology Center.
Despite criticisms from the National Health Insurance (SeNaSa), some patients at the Dr. Heriberto Pieter Oncology Institute maintain that the health center provides them with good service and support, where nurses often guide cancer patients every step of the way.
The head of Human Resources , Bernadette Sánchez, explained that they have no involvement with SeNaSa because it has «its own modus operandi.» However, as an institution, they fulfill their obligation to provide health services to patients.
