Dominican Republic SNS appoints new hospital director and lifts patient access barriers

On 3 August 2026, the executive director of the Dominican Republic’s National Health Service (SNS), Dr. Julio Landrón, swore in Dr. Erimar Grullón as the new director of Hospital Provincial Toribio Bencosme in Moca, Espaillat. Grullón, a hematology specialist with a decade of experience at the hospital and other institutions, was praised by Landrón for her “commitment, transparency and vocation of service.”

During a later inspection of Hospital Jacinto Ignacio Mañón, Landrón ordered the removal of administrative obstacles to care, prohibiting any charge to subsidized patients and forbidding denial of service for lack of an identity card. He quoted President Luis Abinader, saying “by order of the president, subsidized patients must not be charged a single peso. That is illegal.” The director also directed the removal of restrictive signage, the creation of a mini‑intensive care unit with two beds, climate‑control upgrades in waiting areas, and a comprehensive renovation scheduled for the end of the year. The hospital was noted as the 97th facility with zero debt under the current SNS administration.