Hoy newspaper has published in full the letter sent by resigning director of the National Health Service (SNS) Dr. Nelson Rodríguez Monegro to President Danilo Medina. The pediatrician says he tried but couldn’t beat the system. The letter is dated 18 February 2018. President Danilo Medina announced on 20 February that he would be replaced by Dr. Chanel Rosa Chupani, formerly at the government health provider Senasa.
In his letter, Dr. Rodríguez said that structural transformations are needed in the public health sector to be able to combat undue outside interests. He provided a short list of changes that need to continue to be implemented.
Rodriguez said he resigned because he could not make progress in eliminating political patronage and entrenched influence from outside organizations or special interest groups.
He did not accept a position as an advisor to the President on public health.
Rodriguez recommended an increase in government investment in health sector, removing party politics from the sector, professionalizing the management, transparent and reassessment of the use of public funds and strategic of resources according to priorities established by public and private health stakeholders. He called for policies that reward health care workers for excellence in service, including a system of incentives that are tied to performance indicators. He called for the revision and consolidation of health and social security laws as well as the rulings related to labor unions.
Rodriguez called for further development of a healthcare model that gives priority to the primary care and that each suite of healthcare services can effectively and efficiently resolve healthcare issues across the sector. He called for improvements in the quality of standardized care continue by applying existing protocols and procedures manuals. Finally, Rodriguez urged that a more patient-centered care be implemented that guarantees all citizens the right to effective and affordable healthcare.
The replacement of Dr. Nelson Rodríguez Monegro at the helm of the National Health Service (SNS) was for political reasons, according to a commentary by Eli Heiliger published in Diario Libre. Rodríguez was replaced on 19 February 2018, together with several other appointments. As reported, Rodríguez refused to keep on the payroll (nominillas) persons whose appointments were deemed to be based on political partisanship, rather than merit.
“He [President Danilo Medina] is a very kind person who said to me: ‘well, Nelson, try to find a way around this because in one way or another you will understand that they are people who have done a political job,” said Rodríguez Monegro explaining his resignation.
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Hoy
22 February 2018
