The Minister of Public Health has told doctors working at state hospitals that there will not be any salary increases during this year, as reported in Diario Libre. Ministers Freddy Hidalgo said that the budget assigned to the ministry for this year does not include any pay raises for the doctors, nurses or lab technicians. He added that workers at the self-managed institutions would receive the incentives that are established by law. While he acknowledged that the personnel deserved a raise, he said that this year’s budget simply does not have sufficient funds. He pointed out that hospital directors who do not fulfill their responsibilities would be dealt with drastically and mentioned the case of the director of the Jaime Mota Hospital in Barahona, who was dismissed for negligence.