For the eighth time in 21 months, the startup of the Family Health Care plans has been delayed. The ambitious undertaking that would guarantee universal health care for all workers in the DR is contained within the new scheme of Social Security that will cover over 2 million workers. According to El Caribe, the Social Security System of the Dominican Republic, upheld by Law 87-01, has faced incredible obstacles, principally financial, and has been complicated by the sheer size of the project. Eight commissions were designated by the National Council for Social Security to study an 11-point agenda of top-priority items. Three of these, considered to be of capital importance to the program, are still undecided: a consensus on affiliation procedures; the costs and expanse of the Basic Family Health Plan; and approval of the fees and costs for professional services. Differences between unionists and other members of the CNSS caused the union representatives to withdraw from the council. Mariano Negron, a spokesman for the unions, said that the continual conflicts, the confrontational attitude and paltry political interest of officials were some of the reasons cited for the group?s departure. Workers are demanding that something be urgently done to avoid a total collapse of the current Social Security hospital system. In a letter to Labor Minister Milton Ray Guevara, the general manager of the CNSS said that the delay in the startup of the Family Health Service was costing workers RD$500 million each month.