What is really going on that so few people have had access to testing for the Covid-19 in the Dominican Republic?
On 30 March 2020, the coordinator of the High Commission for the Prevention of Coronavirus in the Dominican Republic, Gustavo Montalvo, welcomed donations but said that only the government is authorized to channel medical equipment and test kits for the Covid-19 in the country. Several entities have offered donations, including the largest opposition party, the Modern Revolutionary Party (PRM).
Public Health Minister Rafael Sánchez Cárdenas admitted on the televised briefing on the coronavirus on Tuesday, 31 March 2020 that the government has had difficulties with its national international medical suppliers for the procurement of the diagnostic test kits. The government has said it has sourced these from the Pan American Health Organization.
Sánchez Cárdenas called on the suppliers of the tests to contact the Ministry of Public Health or the government. “We call on national and international suppliers to contact the Ministry of Public Health or the High Commission appointed by the President of the Republic or the government, to help obtain the diagnostic kits we need in the country,” he said. He made the statement upon releasing Coronavirus Bulletin No. 12 that shows 901 persons have tested positive, and there are 51 deaths. As of 6pm on 30 March 2020, 3,255 persons have been tested, according to the bulletin.
Congresswoman Josefa Castillo of the Modern Revolutionary Party (PRM) says that the government seeks to take advantage of the coronavirus in the Dominican Republic to make policies in its favor. She criticized the announcement by the coordinator of the High Commission for the Prevention of the Coronavirus that donations of medicines and medical equipment to confront the pandemic in the country can only be made to the government. The PRM team has secured 40,000 diagnostic kits that are scheduled to arrive on Friday, 3 April 2020.
“I had said that the government would use Covid-19 to make policy in their favor. There it is: they have just prohibited donations not controlled by them, just when a shipment of 40,000 kits to test for the virus, donated by Luis Abinader/PRM, is coming in. A gov of phonies, INDOLENT,” the legislator wrote in a message posted on her Twitter account @Josefacastillo.
Speaking on the La Cuestión radio talk show, Josefa Castillo said that PRM presidential candidate had proposed a united government task force be created but the party has not received a response from the Medina administration. “That’s depriving the Dominican public of a benefit at a time like this. People are dying for lack of assistance because the government didn’t prepare, “ she said. She said the government is using the coronavirus in an attempt to stay in power, to suspend the elections if a situation of lack of governance would arise. She said instead there should be a government of national unity with the health of the people foremost.
PRM delegate to the Central Electoral Board (JCE) Orlando Jorge Mera has said that the measure announced recently whereby only the government can channel diagnostic kits was made specifically against that political party. He said it is “unacceptable.” The shipment with the 40,000 kits secured by the PRM will arrive on Friday. “The government
Presidency Minister Gustavo Montalvo said on Monday, 30 March that to avoid confusion all donations need to be channeled through official authorities.
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1 April 2020