135 were deported on the first day of a switch from the practice of offering free medical services to all needy Haitian migrants. The government is now limiting free medical services at public hospitals to undocumented foreigners.
Gangs control Port-au-Prince and there is a practical collapse of medical services in that country, putting the burden on the Dominican public health system. For years, the pace of Haitians seeking free medical services in the Dominican Republic has been increasing. The world seems to be asking the DR to provide medical services for the more than 10 million Haitians.
The Migration Agency announced the deportation of 135 undocumented Haitians seeking medical services on the first day of the implementation of measures to curb the increasing Haitian demand for public health system services in the DR. Amnesty International calls for the Dominican government to continue to offer the free services to the Haitian population that suffers from an unprecedented multidimensional crisis.
The Haitians in the Dominican Republic have always had access to all medical services. But most outstanding is the birthing costs. There is no charge at the public hospitals. Local Dominican residents complain they are being displaced as entire hospitals serve the Haitian population.
The Dominican Republic dedicates almost 40% of its maternity budget to care for Haitians.
At public hospitals on the border provinces, and in the Santiago Maternity, La Altagracia Maternity Hospital and Los Mina Maternity Hospital in Santo Domingo, and the Veron public hospital in Punta Cana, Haitians are said to be a majority of the women giving birth.
Diario Libre reported that the 135 Haitians deported included 48 pregnant women, 39 women who entered via the emergency rooms to give birth and 48 minors who were with the women.
Migration said those who were deported were taken to the Haina migration processing center in San Cristobal, and then to the border gate with Elias Piña.
Diario Libre reports that the deported traveled in air-conditioned buses with cushioned seats, seat belts, curtains, interior surveillance systems, bathroom and area for luggage. The trip back to Haiti is free.
As the gangs continue to control large areas in Haiti with no perspectives for improvement, the Abinader administration has enhanced border controls and implements new measures to deter Haitian migration that every day enter the Dominican Republic to receive public services, including free education and free medical services.
The new measure that impacts those seeking free hospital services requires the patients to present identification, work papers and domiciliary proof to be seen by a doctor. The new rule establishes that if the patient does not meet these requirements, the person will be cared for and once recovered, will be immediately repatriated. The new rules order the government to charge for inputs and medicines for the medical care, but this has yet to be applied. The Dominican government continues to cover doctor fees.
Reports are that the number of patients seeking consultations has declined at the public hospitals that regularly cater to the Haitian population.
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Diario Libre
Diario Libre
Diario Libre
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Diario Libre
Diario Libre
BBC
24 April 2025