Yesterday, Monday 17 August 2015, the Ministry of Public Health launched a campaign to try and ensure that they are notified of epidemiological diseases by hospitals and clinics.
The launch of the campaign was headed up by director of Collective Health, Jose Manuel Puello, Raquel Pimental, director of Epidemiology, representatives of the Pan American Health Authority and Hans Salas and Nelson Arboleda from the Centers of Control and Prevention of Diseases (CDC).
The campaign is hoping that next year more than 80% of the health centers will quickly notify health officials when diseases are detected. Dr. Pimentel said that hospitals and clinics should report weekly to the Ministry of Public Health (before noon each Tuesday). Under the campaign, once these health facilities issue the report they will be given an electronic ticket which will then enter them into a draw for a prize.
She said that last year only 44% of health centers actually notified health officials of outbreaks of diseases in a timely manner. Reporting deficiencies were even greater in private clinics n only 21% of private clinics notified health officials of disease outbreaks in a timely manner. She did say that after the cholera and chikungunya epidemics, the number of hospitals and clinics reporting the outbreaks of these diseases increased to 70%.
http://www.listindiario.com/la-republica/2015/08/17/384539/solo-44-hospitales-y-21-de-clinicas-notificaron-en-2014-enfermedades-de-epidemias-a-tiempo