Doctor Bernardo Defillo, Doctor Rafael Gonzalez de Pena and former senator Ivan Rondon announced the collapse of the national system of Public Health. Doctor Defillo told reporters from Hoy, ?I am pointing out, without fear, but with much professional embarrassment, that the public health system, its hospitals and its structures has collapsed.? The announcement comes at a time when El Caribe is recounting the situation in San Pedro de Macoris, where more than half a dozen children have died, allegedly because of a lack of medicines and hygiene in the local public hospital. Other cases are being reported on a daily basis in all of the national press. Doctor Defillo said that the first thing that must change is the management of the system, and the incoming health authorities will have to find a ?crisis manager? to handle all aspects of the system and find ways to give better patient care and increase salaries.