The Listin Diario reports the government is two months behind in delivering monthly subsidies to most of the leading public hospitals. The newspaper says the subsidies are the hospitals’ primary source of income since most services are supposed to be provided for free. However, the subsidies in Santo Domingo hospitals range from RD$600,000 to RD$1.5 million a month, which is not enough. Today most hospitals are charging patients what is known as a “recovery quota,” which generates an additional RD$150,000-RD$400,000 to each center. The delays in the payment of the subsidy affect the Maternidad Nuestra Señora de la Altagracia, Luis Eduardo Aybar, Padre Billini, and Francisco Moscoso Puello hospitals in Santo Domingo. Miguel Rodriguez, director general of hospitals for Public Health, told Hoy newspaper that the delays in paying the subsidy affect 159 hospitals. He attributed this to “red tape problems” that would be resolved today.
