Santo Domingo.- The National Health Service (SNS) and the General Directorate of Migration (DGM) began to Apply today the new immigration verification protocol in 33 public hospitals, as part of the provisions announced by President Luis Abinader, in which it demands evidence of legal proof in the country to foreigners who come in search of medical services.
From an early hours, inspectors and migration agents verify compliance with the initiative in Maternity Nuertra Señora de la Altagracia and San Lorenzo de los Mina.
New immigration verification protocol in 33 public hospitals in Santo Domingo
Dr. Mario Lama, director of the SNS, urged to respect the human dignity of foreigners looking for medical attention in the public network.
He clarified that they will only collect the inputs spent by the patient and that if not having resources, it will be assumed by the social service of the hospital that has attended it.
“We guarantee health services because it is a universal right, despite the extent that we are adopting today,” he said.
Foreigners must present valid identification and cover medical services costs
The director of the DGM, Luis Lee Ballester by supervising the hospital centers, said that the measure aims to “order attention, ensure compliance with current immigration regulations and contribute to the sustainability of the national hospital system.”
He instructed migratory inspectors and agents disseminated in medical centers to verify that patients have valid identification, work letter, home test in the country and cover the cost of the services received.
He pointed out that the disposition of the immigration policy drawn by President Abinader will be executed with adherence to due process and respect for human rights, especially in cases of vulnerability such as minors, pregnant and sick women in critical condition.
“Our agents will be fictional entities so that those irregular foreigners in the country after receiving health care, starting the repatriation process to their country of origin,” he said.
Prior to its implementation, the DGM, in coordination with the National Health Service (SNS), carried out a protocol socialization workshop with health, administrative and security personnel of the hospital centers, in order to define the technical criteria and train the teams involved.
Measure seeks to order attention and respect human rights in the hospital system
President Luis Abinader, announced yesterday the new protocol to assist foreigners who come to public hospitals in the country, where evidence of legal proof will be required.
The decision was included within the list of 15 measures announced on April 6 to deal with the irregular migration of Haitians in the national territory.
«Dominicans have the right to receive medical attention without moving. We cannot continue practicing a liberality that compromises our resources, ”he said.
