Former President Danilo Medina immersed his government in the remodeling of 56 public hospitals nationwide from 2013. Billions were made available to upgrade the quality of service. Yet, the simultaneous remodeling created great difficulties because the repairs hindered the services, both for consultations and elective surgeries.
Now Public Health Minister Plutarco Arias explains that most of the newly remodeled hospitals have severe problems in their infrastructure and equipping, and many do not have the finances of the remodeling in order. He said some hospitals do not know how much was invested, so audits are now underway to determine what is owed to the contractors.
In a luncheon at the Corripio Communications Group, Dr. Arias said that the past authorities did not finish the remodeling of the three regional Santiago hospitals – Jose Maria Cabral y Baez, Presidente Estrella Ureña and Arturo Grullón Children’s Hospital. He mentioned the hospital inaugurated in Samaná a year ago has serious problems with the air conditioning, and its intensive care unit is not operational. He said the Mao public hospital has difficulties and it rains inside the remodeled Montecristi public hospital. The hospital in Dajabón has deteriorated and in Esperanza the Ministry of Public Health had to install a hospital tent due to the significant deterioration of that hospital.
On the positive side, he said that the remodeled public hospitals in Monseñor Nouel, La Vega and Puerto Plata are in optimal conditions.
The José María Cabral y Baez Public Hospital director in Santiago, Bernardo Hilario, told El Caribe of the malfunctioning of new equipment at the hospital. The government agency in charge of the remodeling, the Office of Supervisory Engineers of Public Works (OISOE) of the Presidency contracted the equipping to Domedical Supply, a company tied to Juan Alexis Medina Sánchez, brother of former President Danilo Medina. Juan Alexis Medina was sent to the Najayo Jail on Wednesday, 9 December 2020, accused of a corruption scheme.
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Hoy
El Caribe
10 December 2020