The director of the Jaime Mota Regional University Hospital in Barahona has expressed concern about the rising cost of treating poor people from Haiti who cross the border for free medical services. Dr. Martina Feliz Gomez told Listin Diario that medical care for Haitians takes up around 35% of their budget. She described this as a “time bomb” for the main hospital serving the four border provinces of Pedernales, Barahona, Bahoruco and Independencia in the Enriquillo region. She said the hospital receives RD$22.8 million in health subsidies, and other funds for RD$36.9 million in the year. She estimates the government spends RD$10-12 million to service the Haitians, adding that these are conservative numbers. She said that when someone arrives without any identification, as is the case with most Haitian patients, the hospital has to absorb the cost of the transport, and in cases where the patient dies, the coffin and burial costs. She said that Haitians without documentation receive the same service for humanitarian reasons as Dominican nationals. The hospital director said a solution to this situation has to be found because they could not continue bearing the cost of serving a foreign population, while the budget is not enough to service the health needs of local residents. Feliz estimated the hospital receives around 400 patients every day, not including emergencies, and that 30-35% are Haitian.
www.listin.com.do/la-republica/2013/11/22/300582/Hospital-dedica-30-para-atender-a-haitianos