Physician Jose Joaquin Puello, president of the Luis E. Aybar Medical City, urges the Abinader administration take the needed steps to fully put into operation the main hospital complex of the capital city.
The Luis Eduardo Aybar Medical City is surrounded by densely populated low-income sectors and was designed during the Danilo Medina administration as a 13-building complex. Of the 13 buildings, 10 were newly built and three were remodeled, including Cecanot, the Gastroenterology Center and the Dominico Japonés Amistad Center (CEMADOJA).
As reported in the Listin Diario, the past government and the present Abinader administration have invested around RD$18 billion in equipment and construction. Construction flaws and other problems, nevertheless, have impeded most of the medical facilities from going into operation.
The hospital’s plight is heartbreaking, literally. For instance, the center would offer some of the most advanced cardiology services, but the expensive equipment that was acquired has not been installed or used and the guarantees have expired.
Journalist Doris Pantaleón of the Listin Diario shares what Dr. Puello says is missing at the medical city.
Dr. Puello says the mega health center is operating at a fifth of its planned capacity. Listin Diario reports that less than 18% of the hospital complex is in operation. Only open is the external consultation service, where between 5,000 and 7,000 patients are seen by physicians for diagnostics every day.
A modern clinical laboratory located at the Centro Especializado de Atención Ambulatoria en Salud Dr. Nelson Astacio building (Edificio de Consultas Externas) is in operation and the administrative offices area is partially working.
The National Health Service (SNS) recently announced that the new clinical lab at the Luis E. Aybar Medical City would open to the general public on 17 June 2024 with services from 8am to 6pm. Eventually, the lab will be open 24 hours a day. The clinical lab is offering a wide range of services and will be the first in the public hospital network to offer histocompatibility tests that will facilitate organ donor operations.
Read more in Spanish:
Listin Diario
Hoy
13 June 2024