NewsWhore
08-06-2007, 04:20 PM
Despite the interest that President Leonel Fernandez has shown in starting up the Family Health Service (SFS) on 1 September, there are some fundamental aspects that still need to be defined. Perhaps for this very reason, Diario Libre reports that the President is going to meet with all the key actors in the sector to find some sort of solution to the three fundamental issues: doctors' and clinics' fees; free access to specialists and the patient's preferred medical facility; and the system's vertical integration. Regarding the law itself, the modifications already approved with unseemly haste might make any meeting useless for those affected. For the business community and the doctors, any dialogue with the President is important, since they can tell him about the issues that the legislators were not gracious enough to listen to. This, at least, is the opinion of Maribel Gasso, chairperson of the Confederation of Dominican Management (COPARDOM), who feels that it is reasonable to meet with Fernandez to clear up any misunderstandings that might exist surrounding the SFS. As of yesterday, though, neither the doctors nor management had received an invitation to meet with the President.
For the doctors the SFS start up will depend on the government, not the Dominican Medical Association (CMD). Their president, Dr. Enriquillo Matos, told Diario Libre reporter Lisania Batista that the doctors are not happy with the work done by the Superintendent of Health. Their claim is that the superintendent has not halted the HMOs from establishing primary care centers through third party front men. According to the reporter, doubts have increased because of the recent dismissals of doctors by the Humano HMO.
More... (http://www.dr1.com/index.html#1)
For the doctors the SFS start up will depend on the government, not the Dominican Medical Association (CMD). Their president, Dr. Enriquillo Matos, told Diario Libre reporter Lisania Batista that the doctors are not happy with the work done by the Superintendent of Health. Their claim is that the superintendent has not halted the HMOs from establishing primary care centers through third party front men. According to the reporter, doubts have increased because of the recent dismissals of doctors by the Humano HMO.
More... (http://www.dr1.com/index.html#1)