President Luis Abinader named Edward Guzman the new general manager of the National Social Security Council (CNSS), replacing resigning Felix Aracena Vargas. The CNSS is the governing body of the Dominican Social Security System (SDSS). The CNSS has been criticized in the media for its lack of proactivity that has resulted in the low insurance coverage of most Dominican employees at a time when private insurance companies are experiencing record yields. The CNSS is accused of acting as a rubber stamp for big business. His appointment is by Decree 196-22 dated 22 April 2022.
Guzman has been the president of the Permanent Health Committee for the CNSS. He had a key role in the government’s affiliating of two million Dominicans to the National Health Insurance Subsidized Regime (Senasa).
At the start of the Abinader administration, Guzman was named Deputy Minister of Planning and Development at the Ministry of Public Health. There he was responsible for the design and implementation of Covid-19 preventive health protocols for sporting events such as the Dominican Republic Professional Baseball League winter season and the basketball ‘bubble’ to FIBA AmeriCup 2022 held in the Dominican Republic.
Prior to his appointment as deputy minister, Guzman had served as head of the Medical Audit Department of Senasa’s health management and was in charge of coordinating the “Senasa Cuida de Ti” project and the contractual relations between the National Health Service (SNS) and Senasa.
According to Article 26 of Social Security Law 87-01, which created the SDSS, the general manager is responsible for the implementation of agreements and resolutions of the National Social Security Council (CNSS).
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Diario Libre
27 April 2022