There have been advances in the talks between the Dominican Medical Association (CMD) and the government after President Abinader called in Vice President Raquel Peña to find solutions to the impasses with private health insurance plan managers (ARS).
After the meeting on 15 March 2023, the president of the CMD told the press there have been agreements for improvements in the basic plan coverage, inclusion of people with a mental health condition in medical insurance, and payment of outpatient consultations for the elderly and the equalizing of the rates between the health insurance plan managers (ARS), as reported in Diario Libre.
Diario Libre reports there was a positive feeling to the meeting outcome on Wednesday, as confirmed by Dr. Rufino Senén Caba, president of the CMD. Details of the agreements were not shared.
The parties agreed to meet with Public Health Minister Daniel Rivera to ascertain new drugs that would be covered.
The next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, 22 March 2023. The doctors will meet with the National Salaries Committee, summoned by Labor Minister Luis Miguel De Camps, to socialize the prices and increase of the doctors’ consultation fees. That same day, they will also meet with the Minister of Public Health to evaluate the additional diseases and medicines that will be included in the basic plan and upwards.
After that, Caba said they will meet with the Social Security Council for approval. “We must say that during the whole journey with the Vice President, the interest of the official sector to find a solution to the impasse was evident,” he stated.
The meeting was held at the Presidential Palace and was also attended by members of the specialized medical societies. Representing the government in addition to Vice President Peña were Public Health Minister Daniel Rivera; Labor Minister Luis Miguel de Camps; director of Sisalril Jesus Feris Iglesias; the director of Senasa, Santiago Hazim, and Mario Lama, director of the National Health Service (SNS).
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Diario Libre
16 March 2023