The Ministry of Public Health has put the new Rosa Emilia Sanchez Perez de Tavares National Cancer Institute (INCART) into operation. The center, which was symbolically inaugurated at the end of the former President Leonel Fernandez government, has not been operational until now.
As reported, services will be phased in gradually over the next 12 months, and 30% will be offered initially.
First Lady Candida Montilla attended the opening together with Minister of Public Health Freddy Hidalgo.
The new center will provide free services to low-income patients, as well as services for insured patients and paying patients.
The Ministry of Public Health has an agreement with the Mount Sinai Cancer Hospital in New York for training the staff in the high technology being used. Mount Sinai Hospital’s Bone Marrow Transplant director Stephanie Stoss came for the opening.
Miguel Pimentel Kareh of the Supervisory Office of Public Works of the Presidency (OISOE), which was in charge of the construction, said the delays in the start of operations were because of the changes that had to be made to the electricity systems in 25 departments.
The hospital will also be a teaching and research center.