Having access to health services is becoming more expensive every day in Venezuela. The difficulties in finding public appointments and the high prices of many private medical services or private consultations leave few alternatives. However, some health centers in Caracas strive to offer cheaper prices.
In the Venezuelan capital there are options with low prices. Cocuyo effect visited the following three centers:
1️⃣ Santa Inés Ucab Health Center
In Montalbán, in front of the Andrés Bello Catholic University (Ucab) is the Santa Inés Health Center. It has more than 30 medical and dental specialties and almost all medical consultations cost the equivalent of 20 dollars, minus pediatric neurology and nephrology, which cost $30. Depending on the specialty, from five to 15 seats are distributed per shift (morning and followingnoon).
They have a laboratory (in order of arrival) and Imaging. They do not offer MRI and currently the tomograph is not operational, as they are waiting for a piece that was damaged to arrive.
The consultation of gynecology + cytology + transvaginal echo costs 40 dollars. A cardiology consultation plus EKG costs $25.
A bone densitometry at the Santa Inés Health Center costs 20 dollars, as does the breast echo. The other echoes vary between 10 and 40 dollars. Chest x-rays (AP and lateral) are $15. A mammography It costs $20 without implants and $30 with implants.
Marianna Pérez went this April 8 to accompany her mother to get a mammogram and a breast echo. She is a resident of Caricuao, she has been going to the clinic for several years, because although she has sometimes looked for alternatives, she always returns because she considers that it is one of the cheapest health centers in the capital. The difference is noticeable, so We don’t waste time and we come here“, said.
Special studies like endoscopies are worth 110 dollars, while a colonoscopy reaches 125 dollars. As for the laboratory, tests such as prostate antigen (free and total) cost 12 dollars.
Most of its patients are from the areas surrounding the facility (El Paraíso, Montalbán, La Vega, Antímano and Caricuao). They also serve people from other parishes in the Capital District and other municipalities in Greater Caracas, explains Ana Clara CarboneCenter Administration Manager. By 2021, 5% of its patients came from the different regions of the country.
For Solbey Morales, a resident of El Junquito, attending the center has become a tradition: “I always come because there are good prices and everything is fine: the facilities, the cleanliness and the bathrooms.”
They also have a patient support program that does not have the resources to pay for all the services they require. After studying the case, and with the support of natural or legal persons, they support with a percentage of what the patient needs.
coordinates: Av. Teherán, Manuel Aguirre SJ Social Park, Montalbán urbanization, in front of the UCAB.
To make an appointment for a consultation, you must write by WhatsApp to the number 0412-3027671 from Wednesday between 7 am and 4 pm with:
???? Name and surname, age and ID of the patient
????Specialty and name of the specialist (if going to a particular control)
???? Report if you need any complementary services (such as cytology).
Responses arrive between 24 and 72 hours later. If you do not receive a response within that period, repeat the process the following Wednesday.
Mammograms, sonograms, bone densitometry, X-rays and laboratory are attended on a first-come, first-served basis with limited seats. Because it is a Type 1 Ambulatory, they do not attend emergencies, nor do they perform surgeries or hospitalizations. For more information, click here.
2️⃣ Don Bosco Social Complex of Salesian Ladies
In the Don Bosco Social Complex of the Salesian Ladies Association, located in Altamira, they have 25 medical specialties, including cardiology, endocrinology, gynecology, general medicine, internal medicine, nephrology, neurology, pneumonology and ophthalmology. Most consultations cost $15 and are by appointment.
In the area of gynecology, the consultation + cytology costs 30 dollars. If transvaginal echo is also done, add an additional $15, for a total of $45.
Not since March 9 they do mammograms because the equipment is broken. The echoes cost $15, as does the bone density scan. Whole body densitometry costs $20.
The option is an alternative for many people, although some recognize that not everyone can afford it despite being one of the cheapest health centers in the city.
“I found out from neighbors. Long before I used to go to clinics, but the budget is no longer enough. I have been going here to Don Bosco for two years and although it is an alternative, for a person who does not earn in dollars and is also a pensioner, it is difficult to get checkups. For example, here I have ruled out the dentistry service, which is between 20 and 30 dollars, I cannot pay for that,” said one of the 65-year-old patients.
coordinates: San Juan Bosco Avenue, Don Bosco Social Complex, Altamira, Chacao municipality. They work from Monday to Friday from 8 am to 4 pm.
????For medical consultations (by appointment): send a WhatsApp message to 0412-6395257
???? Imaging (by appointment) send WhatsApp message to 0412-2710493. X-rays are on a first-come, first-served basis.
????Dentistry (by appointment): send a WhatsApp message to 0412-6395256
The message must include specialty or study, full name of the person to attend, identity card and contact telephone number.
3️⃣ Cancer Prevention Clinic
The last of the cheap health centers on the list is the Cancer Prevention Clinic from Anticancer Society of Venezuela (SAV).
Located in the Altagracia parish, each medical consultation costs 20 dollars. They have the specialties of mastology, oncology, gastroenterology, gynecology, internal medicine, nutrition, surgery and coloproctology. Psychiatry and urology consultations cost $25.
During the month of April 2022, they maintain a promotion of breast echo + mammogram at 35 dollarswhile in the area of Gynecology the promotion of the month is a consultation, more cytology and a pelvic-transvaginal echo for 50 dollars.
When there is no promotion, the breast echo and the rest of the echoes (abdominal, renal, thyroid, obstetric and others), except the Doppler, cost 20 dollars. Mammograms alone cost $30.
As for biopsies, they only process those that are done at the health center.
coordinates: Av. Norte 3, Canons to Hope, No. 43. Altagracia Parish; Libertador Municipality, Capital District. They work from Monday to Friday from 7 am to 2 pm, and consultations are made in the morning.
To contact them, write by WhatsApp or text message to 0412-0257309 or 0424-2098570. They can also request information by consultasenlinea@sociedadanticancerosa.org. See more information here.
Prices were consulted on April 8, 2022.
