Santo Domingo.- The executive director of National Health Service (SNS), Dr. Julio Landrón, left four Crisis Care Units that make up 24 new beds for patients with mental disorders in the Northern region of the country.
The new units operate in regional hospitals such as University Doctor Luis Morillo Kingin La Vega, and Engineer Luis L. Bogaertin Mao; as well as in provincial hospitals Doctor Antonio Yapor Hededin Nagua, and Father Fantinoin Montecristi.
Public Network increases to 161 beds for care in mental health crises
With the authorization of these 24 beds, the Public Health Services Network goes from 137 to 161 beds intended for the care of patients in mental health crises, expanding the coverage and hospital response capacity in the Northern region.
Landrón highlighted that these actions are part of the National Mental Health Strategy, considered a priority of the Government, along with the strengthening of primary care and the consolidation of the National Trauma Network.
“This implementation represents significant progress in the implementation of the National Mental Health Strategy and in the humanization of services,” said the head of the SNS.
Dignified and specialized care in units separated by sex
Each Crisis Care Unit has separate spaces for men and women, prioritizing the dignity and safety of the patient. In addition, they have areas for Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT), guaranteeing specialized interventions according to the complexity of each case.
The official emphasized the importance of patients being discharged with adequate medical referral, clear indications about their treatment, structured follow-up to prevent relapses, and timely access to essential psychotropic drugs.
Likewise, he announced that the SNS will continue to strengthen the medical and care staff of these units to ensure an efficient and sustainable service.
The head of the SNS recalled that, worldwide, suicide is among the main causes of death in young people between 19 and 39 years old, so the expansion of mental health services in public hospitals responds to an urgent need to expand access, reduce stigma and guarantee specialized care throughout the country.
Expansion in La Vega and new unit in Nagua
During the day, the director of the SNS delivered the expansion of the confinement area of the Mental Health Unit of the Doctor Luis Morillo King Regional University Hospital, which increases the response capacity to psychiatric pathologies that require hospitalization.
At the Doctor Antonio Yapor Heded Provincial Hospital, a new Crisis Care Unit with 14 beds was inaugurated, designed to provide timely and specialized management to patients with mental disorders.
Subsequently, it inaugurated the units at the Ing. Luis L. Bogaert Hospital and at the Padre Fantino Hospital, incorporating 10 additional beds for crisis intervention.
Hospital supervision and upcoming projects
Additionally, Landrón supervised areas of the Ángel María Gatón Regional University Hospitalwhere it evaluated pediatric and adult emergency services, triage, observation, pharmacy and laboratory, reinforcing safety and quality guidelines in care.
Likewise, he said that the next intervention of the José Francisco Peña Gómez Maternal and Child Hospitalas part of the plan to continuously strengthen the Public Network.
