IPS call center faces extreme difficulties in medical appointment scheduling

An investigation into the Instituto de Previsión Social (IPS) call center revealed significant difficulties in accessing medical appointments. During a testing period on Friday, October 9, 720 call attempts were made to the institution's number between 6:00 and 11:00 without a single connection being established.

When a connection was finally made at 11:57, the caller was placed 101st in a waiting queue. After an additional 41 minutes of waiting, a staff member answered at 12:38. Despite the six-hour ordeal, no appointments were available for endocrinology at the Hospital Central or surrounding areas. Officials suggested that patients attempt to secure “recovered turns” by calling on weekends, as the system releases slots when patients fail to confirm their scheduled appointments via text message.