Dominican Republic obesity and diabetes drugs await insurance coverage

Innovative medications for the control of obesity and diabetes in the Dominican Republic have yet to receive effective coverage through Health Risk Administrators (ARS), despite being added to the Basic Drug Schedule over a year ago.

Dolores Mejía, an endocrinology and nutrition expert and president of the Diabetes Observatory, stated that the primary challenge is moving these treatments from paper to reality. The updated schedule includes 18 new tools, such as GLP-1 agonists, SGLT-2 inhibitors, and high-intensity statins.

While the Basic Drug Schedule was developed through collaboration between specialized medical societies and the Ministry of Public Health under the supervision of the Inter-American Development Bank, implementation remains stalled. Effective coverage currently awaits approval from the National Council of Social Security (CNSS). Mejía emphasized that expanding access is a national necessity given the high prevalence of overweight, obesity, and diabetes in the country.