The senator Franklin Pena and the deputy Tobias Crespo of the People’s Forcepresented a bill that modifies Law 12-06 on Mental Health, whose objective is to establish a comprehensive care system that integrates community and hospital care at the national level.
The proposal, introduced in 2021 by Senator Peña, is being studied by the Senate Health Commission and aims to address the high number of mental health cases that affect productive activities and impede national sustainable development. The representative of the province of San Pedro de Macorisexplained that according to National Statistics Officebetween March 2020 and February of the current year, 11,297 people received psychological medical care for concern about contracting Covid-19social isolation and economic pressures.
He highlighted that according to the report, from March 2022, women ranked first in cases with 68 percent (7,635), while men had the remaining figure: 32 percent (3,662). He stressed that these figures are alarming, for which a legal framework is necessary that allows innovation in psychological and psychiatric cares national level.
On his side, deputy Tobias Crespo, argued that it is necessary for the new mental health law to introduce provisions that channel the appropriate resources to face the national mental health situation, prioritizing community and hospital care and incorporating innovative health technologies to treatment of these disorders in the country.
Deputy Crespo stressed that the piece of legislation strengthens the fight against the social stigmas suffered by patients with mental illnesses, strengthening community monitoring, allowing incorporate health innovations in the drug catalog.
The press conference counted the participations of the Dominican College of Psychologists and the Dominican Society of Psychiatry, who expressed their continued support for the legislative initiative and the work of the congressmen.
Senator Peña, who is a health professional, indicated that the modification to the law 12-06 of mental health, will modernize the standards of awareness, prevention, diagnosis, treatment and coverage. The project hopes to unify efforts to provide a comprehensive solution that allows Dominicans to fully develop in aspects of their daily lives.
