Dominican Republic private clinics threaten to halt services to major insurers

The National Association of Private Clinics (ANDECLIP) in the Dominican Republic announced that its member clinics plan to suspend health services for affiliates of the country's main Health Risk Administrators (ARS). The decision will be taken at an assembly on July 8, where representatives will specify which insurers will be affected and the duration of the stoppage.

Clinic leaders say they are seeking a 110% indexation to match inflation in the health sector, noting that under the Social Security law the ARS reimburse clinics at only 25% of costs. The low reimbursement, combined with high expenses for staff, utilities and social security contributions, has strained private health providers.

The Dominican Medical College (CMD) has also announced a strike for July 7, aligning with the clinics' planned action, to protest alleged mistreatment of two physicians by the Vega prosecutor's office.