The Dominican Medical Association (CMD) and the doctors at the La Altagracia Maternity Gospital accused the director of the National Health Service, Nelson Rodríguez Monegro, of covering-up the deficiencies in the health system and washing his hands of the problem, when he claimed the 14 deaths of the infants in the maternity were due to the grave health conditions of the babies, rather than to lack of proper equipment and facilities at the hospital.
The doctors, accompanied by the CMD president, Waldo Ariel Suero, said that of course the newborns had some medical issues, however that most of the deaths were accelerated by the conditions they had to endure, such as four infants in one crib, which they qualified as inhuman. They reiterated that most of the deaths were due to the limitations and dangerous conditions at the hospital that has been under renovation for four years. The CMD is demanding the prompt completion of the renovations at the hospital.
Diario Libre journalists nevertheless toured the Maternity and in the 5 July edition reported that medical services appeared normal at the hospital in the newborn unit. The reporters observed two babies in one crib, but when asked about it were told the two were twins.
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El Dia
5 July 2017
