El Siglo reports that the expansion and reconstruction of five public hospitals has been paralyzed for a year, due to arrears in the payment to contractors of around RD$78 million. This puts at risk expensive equipment that is warehoused in the halls of the hospitals. The delays affect renovations at the Dario Contreras Luis Eduardo Aybar, Maternidad San Lorenzo de los Mina, Rodolfo de la Cruz Lora and the Herrera Hospital in Santo Domingo. President Hipolito Mejia had promised, shortly after being sowrn in on 16 August 2000, that he would finish these hospitals during the first 100 days of his government.
