Dominican Republic SNS defends public hospital management and finances

Julio Landrón, director of the Dominican Republic’s National Health Service (SNS), has defended the financial and administrative management of the public hospital network following criticisms from Senén Caba, former president of the Dominican Medical College (CMD).

Addressing claims of a 40% drop in revenue, Landrón stated that public hospitals have transitioned from being deficit-heavy institutions to generating their own income by billing Health Risk Administrators (ARS). He reported that the network currently holds over RD$3,400 million in its Single Account, a significant improvement from the RD$4,800 million in debt recorded in 2020. As an example, he noted that the Francisco Moscoso Puello Hospital reduced its debt from approximately RD$1,000 million in 2020 to under RD$200 million today.

Regarding personnel, Landrón explained that hospital director appointments are increasingly based on administrative efficiency and health indicators rather than medical specialization alone. He emphasized that while specialists provide vital clinical services, hospital leadership requires specific management training to effectively oversee resources. Additionally, Landrón has initiated inspections of maternity wards to enforce strict protocols against preventable maternal and infant mortality.