IMSS Offers Nighttime Doctor Visits in Playa del Carmen

Cancún, Quintana Roo — The Mexican Social Security Institute (IMSS) has introduced a nighttime medical consultation service at its Family Medicine Unit (UMF) No. 11 in Playa del Carmen, marking the first such initiative in the country. The pilot program aims to provide healthcare access to workers whose schedules prevent them from seeking daytime medical attention.

Extended Hours for Working Patients

The new nighttime service operates from 9:00 p.m. to 2:00 a.m. in two designated consultation rooms. Javier Michel Naranjo García, head of IMSS in Quintana Roo, stated that the program is designed to optimize existing infrastructure and improve healthcare accessibility.

The initiative specifically targets employees in sectors like tourism, where shifts often run from 3:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., making it difficult to attend daytime appointments. UMF No. 11 is currently the only IMSS facility in the municipality, and its daytime clinics are already operating at full capacity.

Positive Early Response

Since its launch two weeks ago, the nighttime service has averaged 40 patients per night. If the three-month trial proves successful, IMSS may expand the hours to 7:00 a.m. and add more consultation rooms.

A key advantage of the program is the concurrent operation of the unit’s pharmacy, allowing patients to receive prescribed medications immediately rather than returning the following day.

Naranjo García emphasized the importance of flexible healthcare access, comparing the initiative to 24-hour supermarkets. He noted that the strategy aims to reduce overcrowding in daytime shifts while accommodating the schedules of IMSS beneficiaries.

The program represents a significant step in addressing healthcare accessibility challenges for shift workers in the region.