The Dominican healthcare system is plagued by commercialization and inefficiency, according to Dr. Wilson Roa Familia, a gynecologist and former president of the Dominican Medical College (CMD). In an interview with Altagracia Ortiz for Hoy newspaper, Roa Familia criticized the system’s many shortcomings and called for a stop to postponing the urgent reforms.
Roa Familia argues that the Dominican government has essentially become a “godfather” in the healthcare and social security business, prioritizing profits over the collective well-being. He points to the creation of inefficient bureaucracies, such as the Dominican Social Security System (SDSS), as evidence of this misguided approach.
“The State seems to have no real power in the decision-making process,” Roa Familia told Hoy. He explained that private companies and financial capital hold the true power within the SDSS. This lack of government control has led to a system that prioritizes profits over patient care.
Physicians and the patients are the big losers. The big winners are the financial companies that can show outstanding yields for managing the medical and retirement plans.
In the interview with Hoy, Roa Familia highlighted several critical issues within the system, including:
• An Inoperative National Social Security Council: The council, tasked with overseeing the SDSS, is rendered ineffective by its bureaucratic structure and lack of clear objectives.
• Low and Dispersed Budgetary Allocation: The meager budget allocated to healthcare is further strained by inefficient management practices.
• Lack of Effective Referrals and Inadequate Regulation: Patients often lack proper guidance and referrals, while public health institutions suffer from inadequate regulation and oversight.
• Overcrowded Hospitals with Limited Capacity: Hospitals are often overwhelmed with patients, leading to long wait times and a lack of access to critical care. This is particularly problematic in rural areas, where patients may have to travel long distances for specialized treatment.
• Illegal Medical Practice: The practice of unlicensed medicine remains a persistent problem in the Dominican Republic, further compromising the quality of care and endangering patients’ lives.
Roa Familia criticized there now is a parallel healthcare system, where so-called “self-managed hospitals” operate with public funds but function like private entities. This privatization of public healthcare has led to further fragmentation of the system and the prioritization of profits over patient care, he says.
He further highlights the lack of coordination between different stakeholders in the healthcare sector, including doctors, patients, and policymakers. This lack of communication and collaboration has resulted in a system that is unresponsive to the needs of the population.
Roa Familia calls for a comprehensive overhaul of the system, prioritizing patient care, eliminating inefficiencies, and ensuring accountability.
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Hoy
16 July 2024