The failure of the two angiographs at the Instituto de Previsión Social (IPS) forced the pension fund to seek alternatives to ensure care for its insured individuals, especially in urgent cases. The president of IPS, Dr. Isaías Fretes, contacted the Minister of Health, Dr. Teresa Barán, to use the public hospital network. Additionally, an agreement was signed with Hospital de Clínicas to support patients in need of the service.
The IPS Health Manager, Dr. Derlis León, reported that as of Wednesday, five insured individuals had been treated at Hospital de Clínicas, a number confirmed by Dr. Elías Rolón, head of the IPS Hemodynamics Service. León explained that the agreement with Clínicas is similar to the one IPS already has with Hospital San Jorge, which is under the Ministry of Public Health. Since San Jorge is installing a new angiograph, it was necessary to turn to Clínicas to treat the five patients.
The manager highlighted that IPS had already provided support to San Jorge on other occasions and that the agreement with Clínicas will be compensated with service counter-prestations. “There is always a counter-prestation being defined with Hospital de Clínicas, whether in services or eventually in something Clínicas may need, as we do with San Jorge,” said León.
Regarding the IPS angiographs, León reported that one of them was supposed to be back in operation on Wednesday, but the problem was larger than initially estimated. The other device is awaiting replacement parts and should become operational in about three weeks. The maintenance company Elizeche SAC guaranteed that, with proper repairs, the devices—which are already ten years old—still have useful life. IPS also announced that it will begin the process of acquiring three new angiographs.
In the meantime, patients with the highest urgency are prioritized for treatment at Hospital de Clínicas.