The former Ministers of Public Health Rafael Sánchez Cárdenas and Bautista (Bauta) Rojas Gómez, considered today that the Government seeks to advertise itself by providing them, as a loan, $2,000 million to private clinics, money that they believe should have been prioritized first for public hospitals before to its shortcomings.
“The public part is the one that most needs this investment support, even that is on the dialogue table of the Economic and Social Council (CES). 30% should be dedicated to the first level, and it is not clear there,” said Sánchez Cárdenas.
President Luis Abinader announced yesterday that the Government will have a fund of $2,000 million, through the Bank for Development and Exports (Bandex), to promote third-level clinics and medical centers, laboratories, national and export pharmaceutical production or projects. health tourism.
Sánchez Cárdenas, a member of the PLD, understands that the great discussion in the country is to strengthen primary care, as discussed at the CES, but contrary to that, $2,000 million are directed to other levels.
“The clinics are going to appropriate those funds. I am not proposing that private clinics not be given support, we are not proposing that, we are talking about the priority policy of a government that lives stumbling, ”he explained.
He stated that the Government’s priority should be the public sector, and that in yesterday’s announcement, the Government spoke of the second and third level, of laboratories, of technological equipment that are part of the first level.
“There is a confusion and that is where I see the political, propaganda component, that we are supporting the private sector. For me it is solemn nonsense,” said Sánchez Cárdenas in a telephone conversation with this reporter from El Nacional.
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While Rojas Gómez, a member of the People’s Force party, recalled that there is a present in that sense, and dates back to 2005, when President Leonel Fernández helped the Metropolitan Hospital of Santiago (Homs) with 25 million dollars. , because its construction was stopped, as a result of the banking crisis of 2003.
According to Bauta, with this loan to Homs, the Government became a partner, shares that three years later were acquired by the same center.
“With the announcement, what you are looking for is to advertise the President, but the Bandex or any other banking entity can offer these services to the private health sector, that is, there is no heroic action in that action,” stressed the Senator from Hermanas Mirabal .
He said he was unaware that Bandex “was so solid”, after recalling that it is a public banking entity but dedicated to export and investment.
“It is a bank for export, but that surprises me and I have my suspicions that it may be one more announcement from the Government; now if it is a reality in that sector (private clinics) they are going to benefit”, indicated the congressman when speaking with this newspaper.
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However, Bauta understands that it is a healthy measure, since private clinics have gone through a difficult situation during the pandemic. “If the rate is attractive (6%) if these resources certainly exist and it is not just another announcement, then it will help this sector a lot,” he specified.
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The president of the Dominican Medical College (CMD), Senén Caba, said that this government initiative did not have the support of that union, in its capacity as adviser to the State on health. He deplored the poor quality of the country’s hospitals, which must be intervened.
