Haitian patients have accounted for a significant portion of hospitalizations in the Dominican Republic this year, according to data from the National Health Service’s Information and Statistics Repository (Riess), Diario Libre reports.
As of August 2024, 12.49% of the 299,908 hospitalizations recorded were Haitian nationals, totaling 36,170 admissions. The number of Haitians cared for in Dominican public hospitals has escalated as violence and collapse of social services prevails in Haiti.
Diario Libre reports that the province of Santo Domingo leads in hospitalizations, with 68,249 admissions, including 6,122 Haitian patients. The National District (the capital city) follows with 38,945 hospitalizations, of which 5,522 were Haitian. Santiago and La Altagracia (Punta Cana) round out the top four provinces with the highest number of Haitian patients.
Diario Libre also reports that Haitian patients constituted 9.37% of emergency room visits. Haitian patients accounted for a significant portion of surgeries performed in major public hospitals. A remarkable 33.4% of births were to Haitian mothers, with the Maternidad Nuestra Señora de La Altagracia being a popular choice among Haitian women. Haitian patients also accounted for a substantial portion of laboratory tests and imaging procedures.
The influx of Haitian patients has placed a significant strain on the Dominican healthcare system, with the annual cost of treating Haitian patients estimated to exceed 10 billion pesos.
The high number of Haitian patients in Dominican hospitals has raised important questions about healthcare access, immigration policy, and the sustainability of the Dominican healthcare system.
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Diario Libre
7 October 2024