Newly implemented verification protocols for foreign patients have led to a marked decline in demand for medical services by Haitian nationals in Dominican public hospitals, according to the latest data from the National Health Service (SNS), El Dia reports. Most of these services were free for the Haitian migrants and their offspring, putting a heavy burden on the finances of the Dominican health system.
The largest demand for foreign health care is for birthing services. The SNS figures, spanning from April to November 2025, reveal that births among Haitian women in public hospitals have dropped by nearly half in some facilities, while overall consultations and emergency visits have seen a similar downward trend.
Since the protocol was launched on 21 April 2025, the demographic makeup of patient care in the national public network has shifted significantly. In April, the SNS recorded 1,928 births to Haitian mothers (32% of total births). By November, that number had fallen to 1,361, representing just 19.5% of the total.
The impact is even more pronounced at major maternity centers:
Nuestra Señora de La Altagracia Maternity: In April, Haitian women accounted for 42% of births (162 cases). By November, this plummeted to 18% (73 cases).
San Lorenzo de Los Mina Maternity: This hospital saw Haitian births drop from 48% (193 cases) in April to 24% (99 cases) in November.
The reduction in demand for medical services by foreigners is not limited to maternity wards. Across the entire public health network, the data shows a broad withdrawal of the foreign population from medical centers.
The number of consultations by Haitians in April 2025 was Haitians, and this declined to 17,920 in November 2025, a 54% decrease.
The number of Haitian hospitalizations likewise declined, from 3,890 hospitalizations to 2,545 for a 34.5% drop.
The number of emergency visits of Haitians to hospitals was 28,148, down to 17,909, a 36% decline.
The decline is attributed to the effectiveness of the verification protocol in place since April 2025. Coordinated between health authorities and the Migration Agency, the protocol was designed to regulate services in high-demand centers. Under these rules, foreign patients must present credentials proving their legal status, such as valid identification, a work letter, or proof of residence to receive the free medical services and be attended to in the public health system.
The policy explicitly states that patients found to be in an irregular migratory status may be returned to their country of origin. Additionally, a fee for services is now required.
In the case of mothers arriving to the emergency room to give birth, the service is provided for free but the mother and child are turned over to the Migration Agency for deportation once they are released from hospital care. This new protocol has deterred the previous demand for the free birthing services.
Read more in Spanish:
El Dia
7 January 2026