DR News
Are unnecessary cardiac procedures being carried out in the Dominican Republic? An article in Hoy alerts that many cardiac stent implants may be unnecessary. Doctors suspect many procedures are to cash in on insurance coverage. They say the focus should be on prevention and early detection of cardiac problems to take other measures. While lifesaving, the cardiac procedures are costly to the health system and to patients, especially because of the costly meds the patient will need to take following the procedures.
Data from the Superintendence of Health and Labor Risks (Sisalril) reveals that in the past three years in the Dominican Republic there has been a marked increased in catheterization, angioplasties and stent implants in patients who required or supposedly required a cardiovascular procedure. The ARS paid for 20,507 procedures for a total of RD$1.7 billion. This was RD$493.9 million in 2016, RD$650.7 billion in 2017 and RD$590.3 billion in 2018.
Data from only the government health provider, Senasa reveals that in the past three years, 11,701 affiliates received 6,920 catheterizations, 4,810 angioplasties and 9,842 stent implants. The medical standard is 2.2 diagnostics per stent implanted, while Senasa numbers indicate 3.5.
The report in Hoy says this is evidence of the increase in the implanting of stents in regards to catheterizations. The concern is that while the high number of interventions is due to the greater access to health services, specialists in the area who asked to reserve their names say that the stenting could be to cash in on the insurance, despite considerations of medical ethics and quality of care.
ARS directors say that the Ministry of Public Health is not supervising the quality of the procedures. Hoy reports that in 2018, at least five new catheterization centers were opened in Moca, Santiago, San Francisco de Macoris and La Romana.
Source: DR1, Hoy
Mar 5, 2019
Reporter Carlos M. Batista of Diario Libre reveals just how much damage is being done to the very unique Los Haitises National Park. The park is protected under laws 202-04 and 64-00 as well as by Articles 14 and 16 of the Dominican Constitution. None of this really matters, reports Batista.
He highlighted in the feature that because of its location besides the Samana Bay and its dense forests, the area attracts clouds that deliver rains that are stored in the underground caverns of that national park. The Los Haitises National Park is a limestone karst plateau with conical hills, sinkholes and caverns and is regarded as an important reservoir for drinking water. The area has an annual precipitation estimated at around 2,000 mm (79 in).
The importance of the park area is that the clouds it attracts also move on to other forest areas that are equally protected by laws and located in the center of the island: Valle Nuevo, Ebano Verde, Las Neblinas, J. Armando Bermudez, Montaña La Humeadora and many others.
The reporter details how he flew over the area, noting that from afar, he and his team could see the smoke from the fires of the “slash and burn” farmers and much human activity in the entire region. During the flight, the reporter took over 100 photographs of the fires, huts, and of cattle and pigs in the park where all human activity is banned.
Environmentalists have been critical of the new Environment Minister Angel Estévez, saying he is the first minister to foster agriculture over environment protection.
Source: DR1, DiarioLibre
Mar 5, 2019
First Lady Cándida Montilla will head the Dominican sports delegation to the Special Olympics World Games that will take place in Abu Dhabi. The games will take place 8-22 March 2019. Elba Nicasio will be the chief of the 21-athlete strong Dominican team. The team will be accompanied by a support staff of 15. Dominicans will compete in athletics, bowling, open water swimming, swimming, rhythmic gymnastics, tennis, triathlon, and beach volleyball. Bowlers Anthony Hidalgo and Genesis Graciano were named the flag-bearers for the team.
The first lady has been a champion for persons with disabilities in the country. From early in the first government of her husband President Danilo Medina, Montilla spearheaded the Centro de Atención Integral para la Discapacidad (CAID) model program that is the leading educational center for persons with special needs.
In the 2015 Special Olympics World Games that took place in 2015 in Los Angeles, California, USA, the Dominican Republic won three gold, three silver and three bronze in open waters, athletics, swimming, softball and triathlon competitions. Winners that year included Alejandro Batlle (triathlon), Juan Cortorreal and Reina Astrid Curiel in open waters, Daniel Fortuna in swimming.
Anthony Hidalgo is a bronze medal winner from the III Latin American Games that took place in Panama in 2017.
https://www.abudhabi2019.org/sports/world-games-2019
Source: DR1, Elnacional
Mar 5, 2019
PUERTO PLATA. – The dense smoke coming from the fire that almost has been going for a week in the municipal landfill, today was the cause that almost canceled the visit to this tourist destination of a cruise ship with thousands of passengers on board.
A credible source revealed that the Azura cruiser with 3, 573 passengers on board, when arriving in the territorial waters of Puerto Plata, was about to turn around, since the smoke covered the Amber Cove terminal.
Due to an intense negotiation that lasted several hours, the executives of the Carnival chose to make landfall in Amber Cove, but not before directly calling the attention of the authorities of the Ministry of Tourism and the Municipal Government of Puerto Plata to this issue.
This vessel valued at 680 million dollars, owned by P & O Cruises which is a subsidiary company and two brands owned by Carnival Corporation, departed last Friday 22nd from Bridgetown in Barbados.
The tourist ship had “La Novia del Atlántico” on its itinerary of a 14-day round trip through the Caribbean, visiting in addition to Puerto Plata, the Caribbean islands of Antigua, Saint Kitts, Tortola, Saint Maarten, Saint Lucia, Grenadines and San Vicente.
It is recalled that, in August last year, the cruise Carnival Horizon from Saint Thomas, with 3,960 passengers and crew members, after seeing the cloud of toxic smoke coming from the landfill of Puerto Plata, canceled its visit.
At that time, the captain of the vessel changed course to New York, alleging mechanical damage to the operation of the ship, but in fact, frpm a previous experience at the Amber Cove terminal, the smoke from the landfill caused irritation to the passengers.
Guests leave hotel because of smoke
Meanwhile, due to this situation, hundreds of guests abandoned the facilities of the Senator hotels (formerly RIU) as the smoke from the landfill flooded the entire environment of this accommodation complex, located opposite the Bay of Maimon.
It was specified that in the morning of today more than 95 rooms occupied by tourists in the Senator hotels in Puerto Plata, were abandoned by their guests without paying a single penny for lodging services.
Likewise, it was learned that from smoke that the wind drags from the landfill of Puerto Plata to the Bay of Maimon, it caused breathing problems to the people lodged in the area and they repeatedly expressed their complaints to the administration.
Authorities are silent
Given the situation of the local landfill, ironically the competent authorities, tourist entrepreneurs and committed communicators, stay silent, since apparently “they try to cover the sun with a finger”.
The population of Puerto Plata continues to demand the definitive solution to this very serious problem, since it threatens the tourism which is the main source of employment in Puerto Plata after the sugar mills and other industries had disappeared.
Source: Puerto Plata Digital
Feb 28, 2019
President Danilo Medina announced during his 27 February 2019 rendition of accounts speech that he has sent to Congress the Social Security Bill that contemplates a redistribution of the profits generated by the national social security system. Banks own the majority of the Administradoras de Fondos de Pensiones (AFP) companies and report a 30% yield. The President explained the bill submitted to Congress proposes a gradual reduction of their profits to reach 0.85% in 12 years. He said this would mean a redistribution of RD$40 billion in the next 12 years instead to pension plan holders.
Furthermore, he pointed out contemplated in the reforms are provisions so that thousands of companies and public entities that are in arrears with the IDSS can put their social security payment plans in order. This will benefit around 150,000 workers.
Moreso, the President announced the Executive Branch would be sending to Congress a bill to definitely close the Dominican Institute of Social Security (IDSS), as contemplated in the Dominican Social Security System Law 87-01. Employees of the IDSS will be transferred to other government entities.
Source: DR1, Listindiario
Feb 28, 2019
At a time when labor, employer and government sectors have begun discussions for minimum wage and pension pay increases in the private sector, President Danilo Medina announced wage increases for government workers in his Independence Day rendition of accounts annual address.
As of 1 April 2019 the minimum wage in the public sector increases from RD$5,117 to RD$10,000. Those making RD$10,000 to RD$20,000 in government will receive wage increases of 10%, and those making RD$20,000 to RD$30,000 will receive wage increase of 5%.
The minimum state pension will increase from RD$5,117 to RD$8,000 as of 1 April 2019. Those making RD$8,000 to RD$20,000 in retirement monthly payments will see increases of 10%, and those receiving retirement payments of RD$20,000 to RD$30,000 will get an increase of 5%.
Also announced was an increase in the father leave for employees in the public sector from two days to seven days.
Source: DR1, Presidencia
Feb 28, 2019
The Ministry of Environment shared findings of the National Forestry Inventory 2018 (INF-RD) at the National Library on Friday, 22 February 2019. The findings were presented by Environment Minister Ángel Estévez, deputy minister for forestry resources Manuel Serrano and Daniel Valerio for the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and Costa Rican consultant Germán Obando.
The study reveals that seven types of forest ecosystems with an area of 2,103,645.32 hectares cover 43.6% of the country. The study cost US$3 million.
The main objective of the inventory was to quantify and characterize the existing forest in the country, in order to promote the importance of these for human life, highlight the importance of the conservation efforts, and consider their impact on food security, the production of water, as well as the protection of the soil and generation of electrical energy.
According to the study, the forests with the largest area are the broad-leaved humid forest (37.75%) and the dry forest (24.05%), which represent 61.80% of the total forest area. The third area in importance corresponds to the semi-humid broad-leaved forest, with 15.39%. The wetland forest represents only 1.41%. In many areas nationwide, natural old-growth forests have been replaced with a monoculture, such as avocado trees.
The inventory determined that the forests of the Dominican Republic currently store a total of 1,978,618,539 tons of carbon (CO2).
According to all the biodiversity indexes, the semi-humid broadleaf forest and moist broadleaf forest strata have the greatest diversity of species, with 235 and 230 different plant species present. It is followed by the dry forest that averages 177 species.
Regarding the regeneration of forests, the report shows that the average density is 28,014 plants/ha (plants per hectare). In the strata of mangroves, humid broadleaved forest and dry forest, the greatest amount of regeneration was found, with 52,233 plants/ha, 35,098 plants/ha and 32,623 plants/ha.
The inventory began in 2015 with the planning and execution phase. The previous forest cover study dated to 1972, by an initiative of the United Nations Food Organization (FAO).
The 2018 study was funded by the German International Cooperation Agency (GIZ) and its Regional Program for Reduction of Deforestation Emissions and Forests Degradation in Central America and the Dominican Republic, the Central American Commission for Environment and development and the Cooperative Fund for Forests Carbon of the World Bank.
Source: DR1, Ambiento
Feb 28, 2019
The recently announced program “I am a Person” that would issue birth certificates and IDs to some 600,000 persons who do not have the identification documents has generated a lot of suspicion in different political circles due to the upcoming elections. The program is sponsored by the Autonomous University of Santo Domingo (UASD), in coordination with the Central Electoral Board (JCE) with funding from the Presidency Special Programs Agency (Digepep).
Media reports point out that in previous pre-electoral years, such as those of 1994 and 1996, there were similar programs to issue IDs/voting cards to Haitians looking to vote. The secretary general of the Social Christian Reformist Party (PRSC), Ramon Rogelio Genao told reporters that it was risky to put such a plan into place during an election year, even if it is a “noble and necessary plan.” Other political leaders said the ID programs should be left exclusively up to the Central Electoral Board.
In an interview with Diario Libre, Digepep program director, Domingo Contreras said the program is not new. He said it calls for issuing birth certificates to minors, not eligible voters. He explained the object of the program is that all in the Dominican Republic have legal identity. He said the 600,000 number presented at the presentation of the program in a press conference was exaggerated, but did not give another number of possible beneficiaries.
Deputy director of Digepep Ajacx Mercedes added that the program cannot be put on hold because it would be a step back for the National Development Strategy. Mercedes says that the actions of the program have already reduced the number of children under five that do not have birth certificates from 25% in 2000 to 9% in 2017.
Source: DR1, DiarioLibre
Feb 28, 2019
The disco bar Pranitium (better known as El Flow) has opened its own restaurant with a food bar. The fashion store Damary’s is now also transformed into a restaurant with a terrace. After all, a big Chinese department store has established on the other side of the street, and various goods including clothing, are being offered at a bargain. A small fashion store can no longer compete with that.
The new terrace / restaurant with food bar is nicely furnished with modern furniture and with planters along the sidewalk. The menu is simple and very affordable from chicken wings to beef with rice and salad. Especially, the American tourists begin making extensive use of this new eatery.
Source: Sosua News
Feb 28, 2019
Wednesday morning, February 27, the memorable event celebrated 175 years since the independent ‘República Dominicana’ was proclaimed. Until at least half past nine it rained constantly and heavily. The Sosúa parade therefore started somewhat later than planned in Charamicos. The parade first went through a number of streets of Charamicos. The procession left Charamicos from the Caribe Tours bus station and walked on towards El Batey, where it first walked through the Calle Pedro Clisante, then stopped for a few minutes at the park with the flags.
There a speech was given and some flowers laid at the memorial. Mayor Ilana Neumann spoke to the public there. At the parade all the schools of Sosúa take part. But among them also representatives of the police, firefighters, civil guard and councillors. The procession then went to the helicopter field. Two stands had been set up on the field. The first one was used as a platform for the mayor and other representatives from where they had a good view on the other platform in front. This second platform was used by all participating groups to make their appearance and entertain the audience with a demonstration.
Source: Sosua News
Feb 28, 2019
