Is it justified that in a poor country like the Dominican Republic, doctors act in their offices as if they were grocery stores or supermarkets; businesses where the prices of their products increase exorbitantly?
The most suitable person to answer is the distinguished doctor Senén Caba, president of the Dominican Medical Association (CMD).
We must make clear the reality that the poorest citizens of this country live when they go to the doctor in search of a diagnosis after experiencing health problems, they always leave the office terrified.
And what is the reason? That the consultations are very expensive and, in addition, many times the doctors do not accept medical insurance. And when they are not accepted, the patient has to pay in cash, or with a credit card, half of what the consultation is worth.
I have many medical friends, so many that their names would occupy a large space in this paper. But because of my condition as a journalist -and act as a counselor- I must always expose the truth, not hide it.
The phrase that “in this country it is forbidden for a poor person to get sick” is more valid today than ever.
No “ragged” with any ailment cannot go to a private clinic… he is forced to go to a public hospital where sometimes there is not even an aspirin to calm the pain.
Indolent and expensive doctor: For obvious reasons I am not going to mention the name of a well-known indolent doctor who does not care about the health of his patients.
The most important thing for him is money. For each consultation he charges RD $8,000.00 without accepting insurance. It’s just the query. Then comes the prescription for medicines that are very expensive.
This article, which I write with rage, is strengthened by the opinion that I read recently and that was made known by the humanist Waldo Fernández, executive of the Education for Development area of ”Manos Unidas”
Waldo Fernández said this: “Although access to health is a fundamental right for all human beings, there are scandalous differences between poor and rich countries and between rich and poor people in the same country.”
I remind Dominican doctors of the philosophy of Hippocrates that was synthesized in the following: “Do not bring another purpose than good and health to the sick.”
Under the Hippocratic Oath he let his disciples know that “they would take medicine throughout the world.”
I respect that our doctors earn their money, but don’t bleed poor people’s limited finances!
