Spokespeople from ProConsumidor, the Dominican Medical Association (CMD) and the Superintendence of Health and Labor Risks (Sisalril) rejected the decision by the Association of Private Clinics (Andeclip) to only accept diagnostics carried out at their own centers for patients awaiting operations. Andeclip represents 116 private clinics nationwide.
Anina del Castillo of ProConsumidor said that the implementation of the measure would violate Consumer Protection Law 358-05. She said Art. 33 of the law establishes that consumers have the right to choose providers for a variety of products and services, according to the needs and desires of the patient and his or her healthcare provider. Castillo also said the measure violates General Competitiveness Law 42-08 and Social Security Law 87-01.
Concurrently, spokespeople from CMD and Sisalril indicated the measure would be in violation to Social Security Law 87-10 in regards to patient’s right to choose. Andeclip based the decision on this enabling better control and improving their finances. Dr. Waldo Ariel Suero, president of CMD said this would affect the cost of healthcare. Suero called for the Sisalril and the National Council of Social Security (CNSS) to intervene to block the implementation of the controversial order. Pedro Luis Castellanos, head of the Sisalril, doubted the unilateral decision would prevail. He said that the decision had not officially been communicated to them. Castellanos said to accept the measure would affect other suppliers and create conflicting situations.
On Monday, 27 November 2017 in the afternoon, Pedro Luis Castellanos of Sisalril, announced that Rafael Mena of Andeclip had told him they would postpone the application of the measure and opens talks sponsored by Sisalril.
Read more in Spanish:
El Nacional
El Caribe
El Nuevo Diario
28 November 2017
