The crisis caused by the arrival of migrants in Ciudad Juárez caused a reduction in the number of Americans who cross the border to be treated in offices and clinics on that border.
Lorenzo Soberanes Maya, vice president of the Health section of the local National Chamber of Commerce (Canaco), said that El Pasoans are afraid to come to this border for medical services because of the wave of migrants on the streets, mainly in the Central Zone.
Although he did not specify a figure, he said that everything from dental and ophthalmology offices to private clinics have felt a drop in visitors from the other side of the border.
“This is generating a significant affectation that has impacted not only medical tourism, but the entire city, in terms of services and restaurants,” he said.
“It is very difficult to be able to determine a figure for the drop in appointments because they regularly go to already scheduled appointments, to procedures that are already established, and there are no reports. Yes there is an affectation, work continues, but there are those who have canceled an appointment for it, ”added the expert in health issues.
With hundreds of migrants in the Central Zone asking for money, he said that those who dare to cross the border for medical tourism, seek a transfer scheme with the same offices to feel more secure.
“People are preferring not to go to this part of the city so as not to be victims of a situation of harassment. We have identified that Haitians are hard workers but Venezuelans want everything for free, so that part of the insistence is affecting the tourist part of the entire city, ”he declared.
Added to this are the long waiting times on international bridges, which, according to the same users, have reached up to five hours, as well as the uncertainty of a possible border closure due to attempted rallies.
“Basically the situation is affected by the insecurity of being able to return safely to their homes after coming to receive care, because as the migratory movement is being very strong, we do not know when they are going to take a bridge,” he said.
However, on this issue, Jaqueline Armendáriz, director of Tourism in Ciudad Juárez, assured that despite the more than 100 camps that exist outside the municipal presidency, American visitors have not stopped receiving.
