Healthcare improvements announced in Dominican Republic and Colombia

In the Dominican Republic, the National Health Service (SNS) has invested over RD$15 million to strengthen medical services in the San Juan province. The Alejandro Cabral Regional Hospital received medical equipment valued at more than RD$11 million, including a modern laparoscopy tower worth approximately RD$5.8 million. This technology will allow for minimally invasive surgeries, such as gallbladder, hernia, and appendix procedures, to be performed free of charge for eligible public health patients. The investment also includes a portable X-ray machine to facilitate bedside diagnostics.

In Colombia, the national government and the Hospital Universitario Erasmo Meoz (HUEM) in Cúcuta have launched a plan to address a significant backlog of surgical procedures. The initiative aims to perform over 4,000 pending surgeries, targeting more than 2,800 patients. The plan prioritizes specialties including gynecology, vascular surgery, urology, neurosurgery, pediatric surgery, and orthopedics. This effort follows delays caused by unpaid debts from EPS providers, which had created bottlenecks in essential medical care.