The Medina administration has eliminated the “recovery fee,” a low services fee charged by public hospitals. Apparently, the Medina administration did not foresee that the elimination of the charge would result in a significant increase in people seeking the now free services.
The SOS Committee of the Robert Reid Cabral Children’s Hospital said that the situation has led to a financial crisis for the hospital that receives RD$7.2 million per month in government funding and has now accumulated RD$82 million in debts to suppliers that have shut down credit.
Dominican Medical Association (CMD) president Pedro Sing and Maritza Lopez Mateo and Radhames Ovalles of the SOS Committee, held a press conference yesterday, Monday 19 May to press for more funds. They are also requesting repairs for equipment and improvements in water service. They say the hospital needs RD$18 million a month from the government.
As reported in Hoy, Minister Freddy Hidalgo told the doctors who met with him at the Ministry yesterday, Monday 19 May, that overall the public hospitals have accumulated RD$3 billion in debts after the introduction of free services.
www.elcaribe.com.do/2014/05/20/admiten-robert-reid-pasa-por-calamidad