At the points that the Ministry of Public Health opened for tests, the schedules are not respected. There are also problems in the location of the centers.
COVID-19 took a week off Byron Gordón’s work and he didn’t want to lose any more. For that reason, he went to the Calderón health center, in the north of Quito, yesterday afternoon with the hope of taking a negative test and thus being able to re-enter his position in a bank. He arrived at 15:02, but the guard told him it was too late. He was two minutes late. Although he insisted, they told him that the sampling was finished in the morning and that, in addition, the doctor in charge was with another patient.
Byron was enraged. “These tests are supposed to be done quickly. It is very outrageous and even more so when it comes to our health ”, he commented.
The tests do not supply the centers that the Ministry of Public Health (MSP) set up in Quito to detect COVID-19, a measure against the spread of the omicron variant. This newspaper made a tour of different points and found people who did not access the service due to lack of shifts. He also verified that office hours are not respected and that there are inconsistencies in the location of the centers published by the MSP.
This newspaper requested an interview with this Ministry last week, but it was not heard until the closing of this report.
Few shifts
At the Las Casas health center, in the north center of the capital, only 25 daily shifts are served, between 08:00 and 16:30, according to two officials from that establishment. Those who seek to be tested for COVID-19 are treated abroad; only those who go for the vaccine enter.
The shifts for the diagnosis of COVID-19 are given in person from 07:00, despite the fact that on the website of the Ministry it is detailed that the attention is from 08:00.
To request an appointment, people go to the window with their ID. Then, users approach the time that appears on the ticket to be evaluated and, if required, the test for COVID-19.
At 10:15 this Monday, seven people were waiting in tents located outside the health center. The procedure began with the collection of personal data (telephone number, names, address, symptoms, telephone number of a relative and if he has been in contact with an infected person). Then a doctor assessed the patients (pressure, saturation and temperature) and thus determined if they needed a test. If there was a green light, the doctor would take between five and ten minutes to give the result.
The last shift at this center was attended before noon. It was a woman with shortness of breath and a runny nose. After medical evaluation and swabbing, her result was negative.
In the La Tola Health Center, in the center of the city, something similar happened. The guard of this establishment indicated that there are between 15 and 20 shifts daily. They are so few that this Monday they were finished in the morning.
Wrong locations
On the MSP list there are 134 points in Quito where, they say, people can go for COVID-19 tests for free. Among them is a health center located in La Vicentina, in the north center of the city. This newspaper went to that place last Friday morning, but they indicated that tests were not carried out there.
Another establishment that appears on the MSP’s list is that of Santa Clara del Norte. However, in the indicated direction there is no diagnostic point.
At the Calderón health center, in the north of Quito, there was little movement last Friday afternoon. Samples were no longer being taken. The people there were just waiting for the results of their tests done in the morning.
Among them was Anthony Ortega, who needed to confirm or rule out his contagion. He said that a week ago he had a meeting with his friends and that, the next day, one of them tested positive. Anthony had mild symptoms (headache and a little runny nose).
He said that he had taken the test at noon and that he had to return after three hours to get the result. To his surprise, they did not give him any printed documents, they only notified him verbally. “The results took a long time, but they came out negative,” he said, relieved before he was handed a blister of ibuprofen that the doctor prescribed for his discomfort.
Byron Gordón attended the same center yesterday. He had found out from the MSP that they did the free test there and that the service was from 08:00 to 16:30. He arrived at 3:02 p.m., but the guard told him that it was already two minutes late. (I)
Paul is a talented author and journalist with a passion for entertainment and general news. He currently works as a writer at the 247 News Agency, where he has established herself as a respected voice in the industry.
