He Minister of Public Health and Social AssistanceDaniel Rivera delivered a master lecture entitled “Health Impact Strategy of the government of Luis Abinader”in which he presented the achievements achieved in this period in terms of health.
During the dissertation, the official highlighted that during the two years of management (2020-2022) some RD 5,126,266,797.59 in infrastructure and equipment in 179 health centerssaving the State about 5,000 million pesos.
He held that, in Directorate of Access to High-Cost Medications, the government currently invests some 9,000 million pesos annuallyto benefit around 15,000 patients with chronic diseases.
He stated that the current authorities found the country in a state of emergency, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemicwithout an efficient protocol, for which reason they sought a quick and strategic response path to implement, before the challenges and needs facing the nation at that time.
In this sense, he explained the strategies implemented that resulted in the current development of the health sector.
“The health system did not have an emergency plan and the regulatory and training framework to act in the face of any pandemic was streamlined, the first level of care is being renewed, we are increasing diagnostic capacity, implementation of mobile hospitals, relations with international organizations and alliance public-private and high training in human resources in health. Through all these initiatives developed by order of our President Luis Abinader, we have achieved what we are today in terms of health.” indicated Dr. Rivera.
In this context, Dr. Rivera maintained that The Government gave a quick response to any epidemiological situation that could be unleashed, after the passage of natural phenomena such as the passage through the country of the fiona stormalso with preventive actions for the monkeypox, cholera and other viruses.
In addition, he detailed the investments made in renovations, emergencies, new constructions, first level centers and in specialties such as hemodialysis, oncology units and diabetic foot, among others.
During his presentation, the official pointed out that President Luis Abinader has a great strategic vision to continue strengthening the health system in the Dominican Republicsuch as the healthy municipalities programs with the implementation of the Health Routes “Change your Lifestyle” and the creation of sanitary cities in the provinces of San Francisco de Macorís, San Pedro and San Cristóbal.
“From our Ministry of Health we have impacted more than 100,000 people with the Health Route day in 17 provinces, with some 35 services such as: evaluations, general consultation, pediatrics, blood typing, diagnoses, treatments and prevention oriented to non-communicable diseases, psychosocial support, medication delivery, affiliation with the National Health Insurance (SeNaSa) among other services”.
The also president of the Health Cabinet highlighted the achievements made in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, with which the country was able to guarantee vaccination for all citizens and was the third to apply the third dose. Likewise, it determined to use the drugs Tocilizumab and REGEN-COV in seriously ill patients and was one of the first in the world with the lowest lethality of the disease.
He also highlighted that the country was one of the five nations with the best vaccination rate, the sixth in Latin America to implement inoculation in childrenthe third in the region to carry out Genomic Sequencingbeing recognized by the World Health Organization (WHO/PAHO)due to the strategies implemented during the pandemic.
The Minister of Health highlighted the different social programs that are carried out in the field of health, in which he highlighted the budget increase made in the Essential Drugs Program and Central Logistics Support (PROMESE/CAL), which went from RD 1,568 million in the year 2022 to RD 3,176 million in 2023 for essential medicines, benefiting around 17,000 low-income patients.
Similarly, he indicated the work carried out by entities such as the National Health Service (SNS), SeNaSa, Uniendo Voluntades, the National Institute of Drinking Water and Sewerage (INAPA), the Ministry of Housing and Buildings, among others.
The Minister of Health held the conference at the Convention Center of the UTESA University, invited by the New Democrats External Sector movement, which was attended by officials, collaborators of the Ministry of Health, deputies and special guests, among other personalities.
