Abinader swears in new committee to strengthen mental health care in prisons

Santo Domingo.- President Luis Abinader has sworn in the Dominican Committee for Penitentiary Mental Health, a new body tasked with strengthening mental health policies, programs, and services for incarcerated individuals, prison staff, and their families as part of the country’s broader prison reform efforts.

During a ceremony at the National Palace, the president said the initiative represents another step toward humanizing the prison system and improving rehabilitation services. Abinader highlighted recent advances under the National Mental Health Policy, including the addition of 105 specialized hospital beds, the construction of psychosocial care centers, and plans for a future neuroscience institute. He also announced that three specialized mental health prisons in Azua, La Vega, and San Pedro de Macorís will begin operations this week, making the Dominican Republic one of the first countries in the region to establish a comprehensive structure for addressing severe mental health conditions within correctional facilities.

The newly created committee will bring together government agencies, universities, healthcare institutions, and professional associations to improve clinical care, expand research, strengthen staff training, and modernize mental health services throughout the prison system. Officials said the initiative will focus on protecting human dignity, improving rehabilitation outcomes, enhancing public safety, and ensuring that both inmates and correctional personnel have access to specialized mental health support. The committee also plans to promote a Penitentiary Health Teaching Center and develop a national research repository to support evidence-based policymaking.