DR1 Daily News - Dominican Republic

There are only primary care centers and plush hospitals for the care of tourists and the wealthy. When people who only have basic insurance need hospital care, they must get driven to Higuey, about a 45-60 minute drive.

The Punta Cana area has several high-end private hospitals that are happy to take your cash, credit cards and international insurance. Yet they will just give primary care to anyone arriving to the emergency room with just basic insurance.

Diario Libre writes that the large number of employees and the rising population, now estimated at over 150,000, merit a public hospital.

Read more in Spanish:

• Diario Libre