Officials from the National Health Service (SNS) and the National Health Insurance (SeNaSa) held a strategic planning meeting this week to advance the restructuring of the Dominican Republic’s public health system. Led by new appointees Dr. Julio Landrón (SNS) and Dr. Edward Guzmán (SeNaSa), the meeting focused on several key initiatives aimed at improving healthcare quality and accessibility.
The officials say that Primary Care is a major priority for the current administration. They commit to focus on the equipment, repair, and staffing of primary care units to ensure more efficient and humane service.
During the recent meeting, a joint working group involving the SNS, SeNaSa, the Ministry of Public Health, and Promese/CAL (the essential medicines program) was created. This group is tasked with coordinating hospital services and improving insurance coverage.
Dr. Landrón emphasized that SeNaSa’s role is critical to the financial stability of the entire public hospital network.
Plans include expanding mental health services to remote areas and reducing “out-of-pocket” expenses for the most vulnerable citizens.
According to Dr. Guzmán, the goal is for all public health entities to work in a unified direction to ensure dignified and accessible care for all affiliates.
The meetings come as the Abinader administration has undertaken efforts directed to revamp the public medical system.
In the past two years, since the naming of Victor Atallah as minister of public health on January 2024 changes in the public health system have been happening. The system, nevertheless, imploded when irregularities and deals inside the public health insurance company Senasa brought a wave of public indignation. The deals leaned in favor of poor quality of medical inputs and overall services and favored clinics at a time when taxpayer money had been used to build mega hospitals.
Following, the heads of leading public health institutions were changed.
Dr. Jesus Feris Iglesias, in charge of the Sisalril, the government organization responsible with supervising Senasa, resigned. He was replaced by economist Miguel Ceara Hatton who uncovered a major fraudulent operation. This information led President Luis Abinader to remove Santiago Hazim as head of Senasa.
Shortly after, Dr. Mario Lama resigned from the National Health Service that administers public hospitals. One of the findings of the ongoing investigation is that deals signed with clinics was diverting patients to these in detriment to the finances of the pubic hospitals. He was replaced by Dr. Julio Landron, who is known as an efficient hospital manager.
Edward Guzman was named to head Senasa on 17 August 2025 at the resignation of Santiago Hazim. Guzman is an insider. He had been appointed on 22 April 2022 as general manager of the Social Security National Council (CNSS). Prior to the start of the Abinader administration in August 2020, he had been in charge of the department of medical auditing at Senasa. He was promoted to be vice minister of planning and development at the Ministry of Public Health from August 2020 to April 2022.
Santiago Hazim is now in Las Parras Jail awaiting trial. Hazim appealed the order that sent him to jail and not domiciliary arrest as the case is investigated. On 4 February 2026, judge Isis Muñiz ordered that he continue in Las Parras together with his financial director Gustavo Enrique Messina Cruz, legal advisor German Rafael Robles Quiñones, health services manager Francisco Ivan Minaya Perez and Ramon Alan Speakler Mateo. Ada Ledesma Ubiera was ordered to remain at theNayayo womens jail. The judge confirmed the domiciliary arrest of Cinty Acosta, Heidi Pineda and Eduardo Read.
Read more in Spanish:
Noticias SIN
Ars Senasa
Listin Diario
5 February 2026