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View Full Version : Minister of Public Health outlines priorities



NewsWhore
09-20-2012, 01:20 PM
In an interview in El Caribe, Minister of Public Health Lorenzo (Freddy) Perez says that his department will give priority to implementing primary care centers nationwide. He said that 80% of health problems were solvable. He announced plans to decentralize the health system, saying that the Ministry would still have the role of overseeing and establishing sanitary policies while a new body would be created to manage hospitals and staff. He said a bill would be sent to Congress proposing the creation of Regional Health Services Coordinating Body, a department that will contribute to the decentralization process. He said that people who want to work at a hospital would have to apply at the hospital itself and not to the Ministry of Public Health, which has been the procedure up till now.

Dr. Perez said that there should be a primary care center for every 500-700 families. According to the minister, an estimated 2,000 primary care units are needed, of which he said 1,730 have already been installed to provide services to people seeking public health assistance. He said that the installation of the primary care centers is also delayed in the private sector. Perez said he would be meeting with the Association of Owners of Private Clinics to discuss the implementation of the program. He said discussions are taking place for the Ministry of Public Health budget for next year, estimated at around RD$57 billion.

www.elcaribe.com.do/2012/09/20/ldquohay-voluntad-resolver-los-principales-problemas-sanitariosrdquo (http://www.elcaribe.com.do/2012/09/20/ldquohay-voluntad-resolver-los-principales-problemas-sanitariosrdquo)

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