Dominican Health Ministry Reviews Eight Hospitals Over Maternal and Infant Mortality

The Dominican Republic’s Ministry of Public Health has begun simultaneous evaluations at eight hospitals as part of a nationwide review of conditions associated with maternal and infant mortality and morbidity.

Health Minister Víctor Atallah said the intervention is not intended to replace hospital authorities. Instead, specialized teams will assess operations directly at the facilities, identify gaps, determine responsibilities and establish corrective measures with defined deadlines.

Hospitals Under Technical Review

The facilities being evaluated include the Maternidad Nuestra Señora de la Altagracia and Maternidad San Lorenzo de Los Mina in Santo Domingo; Presidente Estrella Ureña in Santiago; Nuestra Señora de la Altagracia in Higüey; Alejandro Cabral in San Juan de la Maguana; Marcelino Vélez Santana in Santo Domingo Oeste; Hospital Municipal de Verón; and Ángel Contreras in Monte Plata.

The selection covers hospitals providing maternal and general healthcare services in different parts of the country, allowing the assessment to examine conditions across several health facilities rather than focusing on a single center.

Five Teams to Assess Hospital Services

Five specialized teams will examine a broad range of factors that can affect the quality and safety of maternal and infant care. Their work will include reviewing epidemiological surveillance, infection control, water quality and sanitation, waste management, compliance with maternal and infant care protocols, and the availability of medicines and medical supplies.

The assessment will also cover the quality of care provided, patient safety and the physical infrastructure of each hospital. The objective is to identify operational or clinical gaps that require corrective action.

“We are acting with rigor, transparency and a sense of urgency. Every maternal or infant death must be investigated, and every finding must become a concrete action,” Atallah said.

Corrective Plans to Follow the 15-Day Assessment

The field assessment is expected to last a maximum of 15 days. Once the evaluations are completed, the Ministry of Public Health will consolidate the findings and develop an individual corrective action plan for each hospital.

Each facility will receive a report containing mandatory recommendations, designated responsibilities and compliance deadlines. Follow-up visits will then be conducted to determine whether the required measures have been implemented.

The process will be overseen by the health minister and the ministry’s six vice ministries. The findings will subsequently be presented to the Health Cabinet, coordinated by the Vice Presidency of the Dominican Republic.

For patients and families using these hospitals, the review is designed to translate the identification of weaknesses into specific changes in clinical practices, supplies, sanitation, infrastructure and patient safety. The effectiveness of the initiative will depend on the implementation and subsequent monitoring of the corrective measures established for each facility.