Doctor Antonio Musa, of the Regional Hospital in San Pedro de Macoris, has been forced to suspend elective surgeries and outpatient treatments during the night because of the continuous blackouts and problems related to the facility?s emergency generator. As reported by journalist Miguel Antonio Natera for El Caribe, Dr Thelma Molina, the provincial president of the Dominican Medical College, said that the areas of surgery, pre-natal and natal care have had to be put on hold due to the circumstances of late. While the electric situation is the most mentioned complaint, it is not the only limitation. The hospital presented a long list of deficiencies that also included a lack of water, detergents, fuels and air-conditioners as the most pressing needs. Without air-conditioning, the surgical areas cannot continue to operate. A lack of fuel for the stand-by generator, little or no detergents or anti-bacterial agents to disinfect the various areas and the unavailability of ambulances to transfer patients leaves the health facilities with little other option but to cease certain services. The continual 12-hour blackouts merely aggravate the existing problems.