The president of the Dominican Medical Association (CMD), Dr. Waldo Ariel Suero, has called attention to the high unemployment rate among young doctors in the Dominican Republic, stating that between 15,000 and 20,000 recent medical graduates are currently out of work.
Speaking during a press event held in honor of Dominican Doctor’s Day, Dr. Suero described the situation as alarming and emphasized the urgent need for job opportunities in the health sector, particularly for new professionals entering the field.
“One of our biggest concerns right now is the significant level of unemployment among young doctors,” Suero said. “We’re talking about 15,000 to 20,000 unemployed physicians — that’s a serious issue.”
To address this, Suero proposed expanding primary healthcare services under the public health system’s subsidized regime. “The best way to generate employment is by launching a fully functioning first level of primary care, especially in underserved areas where the most pressing health problems are found,” he explained.
According to Suero, the country would need around 6,000 new primary care units to adequately implement this model. These centers would open up an estimated 4,000 jobs for general practitioners, pediatricians, and family medicine doctors — a much-needed opportunity for thousands of unemployed professionals.
He also suggested that more doctors could be employed in schools, military barracks, and even shopping centers, as additional ways to integrate medical professionals into society and improve access to healthcare.
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Diario Libre
19 August 2025