President Hipólito Mejía issued Decree 1155-2000 (dated 10 November) that revokes his Decree 1051-2000 (dated 27 October) that had ordered the reopening of the medical school at the Eugenio María de Hostos University (Unirehmos). The university had been closed in February 1998, after irregularities were detected that were giving an ill repute to Dominican medical grads. The university was closed after Alejandrina Germán, president of the National Council for Superior Education (CONES) requested an explanation for its re-opening, saying this could only be attributed to the peddling of influence. The rector of the medical school at the time was Dr. José Rodríguez Soldevilla, today Minister of Public Health. Dr. César Mella, medical advisor to President Mejía told the press he was not aware who had recommended to the President the reopening of the school. Mella, at the time president of the Dominican Medical Association, was on the commission that in 1998 recommended the closing of the medical school.
