Dominican Republic seeks stricter regulations for medical tourism

Stakeholders in the Dominican Republic are calling for stricter regulatory compliance and international certifications to strengthen the nation's medical and dental tourism sectors. Key requirements include authorization from the Ministry of Public Health and the adoption of international standards, such as Nordom ISO 22525:2020.

Industry representatives emphasized that the sector's viability depends on patient safety, transparency, and risk management, particularly regarding professional liability under the new Penal Code. To support this model, health providers are encouraged to establish specialized departments capable of providing bilingual care and intercultural communication, managing everything from pre-travel evaluations to post-treatment follow-up in the patient's home country.

These topics were discussed during the “Health Tourism” panel at the XXVI National and International Congress of Dentistry (CONAOD XXVI). Experts noted that sanitary tourism creates a multiplier effect on the local economy by boosting employment in hospitality, transport, and complementary services, while also driving investment in medical infrastructure and technology.