Tijuana mayor demands doctors and officers stop medical pass 'scam' at the border

SAN DIEGO (Border Report) -- Tijuana Mayor Montserrat Caballero is calling out doctors and others who have been "selling access" to a special medical lane designed to get patients across the border quickly.

The lane was set up years ago as an incentive to get people to visit Tijuana for medical and dental procedures.

Caballero says some doctors and police officers have been selling access to this lane to those who don't receive or need medical attention south of the border.

"We have doctors who are selling these medical passes, cheating the system, something they shouldn't be doing," Caballero said. "We are launching an investigation, those caught doing this will lose their privilege to provide this service, we'll keep doing this in the future."

The mayor also said the sale of illegal passes has led to longer waits in the special lane intended to get patients across the border faster.

"This is a form of corruption on behalf of doctors, police and other public servants," she said. "We are adding special chips or sensors to the passes, but I know they will ultimately find other ways to carry on with this corruption."

The mayor told reporters earlier this week of a case where one person said he bought a pass from a doctor for $10.

"This is actually less than what they go for," she said.

The passes are normally sold to doctors at Tijuana's Economic Development office.

These passes are supposed to be handed out to patients who can't sit in line for long periods.

Abraham Sánchez Frehem, president of Tijuana's Medical Cluster, says the practice needs to stop as it is hurting legitimate physicians and their patients.

"Unfortunately, the clandestine sale of these passes goes on, authorities have not been able to stop this," he said. "We insist the Economic Development office demand an accounting of where these passes are going, anyone not doing this should be reprimanded."