With the mediation of Reverend Jesus Castro, rector of the Universidad Catolica Santo Domingo, and the participation of doctors Cesar Mella, Jose Joaquin Puello and Julio Amado Castanos, the Dominican Medical Association (CMD) met at the university yesterday Thursday 14 April 2016. The public sector health workers’ union agreed to focus the discussions on eight points aimed at improving the medical system, namely: pensions and retirement, consolidation of a single healthcare network, wage policy, improving public hospital services and conditions, healthcare staff appointments, strengthening the public and private primary care system, examining the proposed allocation of 5% of GDP to the health sector and planning housing loans for health sector employees. Each sector will be represented by up to 10 people.
The participants agreed that they would not discuss the proceedings in public so as not to affect the negotiations. The health union also agreed that it would not go on strike while the discussions are in process.
The next meeting is scheduled for Thursday, 21 April 2016 at 5pm at the university.
