Tulum’s Hospital Crisis: Residents Forced to Pay

TULUM — Residents of this municipality face a constant problem due to the lack of public hospitals that provide timely medical care in cases of illness or emergency. The absence of hospital infrastructure forces the majority of residents to turn to private clinics, where costs are often high, or to more economical practices such as those at Farmacias Similares, where they must adhere to reduced hours and long waiting lines.

Despite being beneficiaries of the Mexican Social Security Institute (IMSS) or the Institute for Social Security and Services for State Workers (ISSSTE), citizens report that there are no hospitals from these institutions in Tulum. The only available medical center is the IMSS-Bienestar Hospital, located on Acuario Poniente street, but it is primarily intended to provide free care to the population without social security.

According to the IMSS's own guidelines, to receive care at these units it is necessary to present the Clave Única de Registro de Población (CURP) and, in the case of beneficiaries, the corresponding affiliation document. In practice, however, many patients face administrative restrictions that prevent them from receiving the service.

Mr. Francisco Escobedo, a resident of the municipal seat, explained that for bureaucratic reasons, those with IMSS or ISSSTE affiliation cannot be treated at this hospital. "If you have insurance, they send you to Playa del Carmen; they won't take you here, even if it's an emergency," he commented.

Faced with this limitation, inhabitants are forced to go to private hospitals in Tulum, where the costs can be prohibitive for a large part of the population. The Hospital de Tulum offers packages of medical services that, while seeking to be accessible, are high compared to the local average income.

For those who cannot afford these expenses, the clinics attached to pharmacies have become an alternative. However, their medical care is basic and insufficient in situations requiring specialists or advanced equipment, especially in cases of serious emergencies.

The closest option for IMSS or ISSSTE beneficiaries is to travel to Playa del Carmen, approximately 65 kilometers away. This journey represents an additional challenge, particularly in emergencies where every minute is crucial.

Given this situation, residents of Tulum have called on state and federal health authorities to expand hospital infrastructure in the region and allow beneficiaries of public institutions to be treated at the local hospital. They warn that if this problem is not addressed, the population will continue to be exposed to significant risks due to the lack of timely and affordable medical care.