Hundreds of doctors and lawyers affiliated with the Dominican Medical Colleges (CMD) and of Lawyers of the Dominican Republic (CARD) marched against the work carried out by the Administrators of Health Risks (ARS) and Pension Funds (AFP), in demand of greater medical coverage, health and decent pensions for the population; as well as for independent professionals to be included in the Social Security Treasury.
The march was led by Senen Caba, president of the Dominican Medical Association; supported by Miguel Surun Hernández, president of the Bar Association; members of the National Association of Private Clinics of the DR (ANDECLIP); the president of the Dominican Association of Teachers, Eduardo Hudalgo; Deputy Pedro Botello and representatives of other professional and technical associations.
The civic and peaceful demonstration began at the headquarters of the Dominican Medical College, continued along Alma Mater Avenue and ended at the building of the National Social Security Council (CNSS)where they delivered a document.
Read more: Botello and Federation go to march for social security
The president of the CMD, Senén Caba, assured that the ARS generate 13 million pesos daily and that since its foundation they have obtained more than 72 billion pesos that have not been reflected in the benefit of the system’s users.
Caba also demanded that Senasa assume all Dominican families and denounced that health providers and insurers do not offer the necessary coverage for members, pay doctors little and with delays on multiple occasions, which makes it difficult to the doctors
While the president of CARD, Miguel Surun Hernandez, demanded the inclusion of independent professionals and technicians in the coverage of the Social Security Treasury, as established by Law 87-01 that created the National Social Security Council.
Surún Hernández recalled that said Law, approved in 2001 and which entered into force in 2003 18 years ago, has not been complied with by the authorities, despite the fact that it establishes the application of the Subsidized Contributory Regime, which provides for the protection and coverage of independent professionals and technicians with average income equal to or greater than the national minimum wage, with contributions from the worker and a state subsidy to make up for the lack of the employer.
The trade unionist denounced that the breach of this system has allowed the AFPs to accumulate resources and obtain multimillion-dollar profits.
“Social security is a right that is enshrined in article 7, literal C, of Law 87-01, which creates the National Social Security System and this is not being fulfilled,” said the trade unionist.
