Public Health survey reveals major nursing shortage in Dominican Republic

Santo Domingo.- A new survey by the Ministry of Public Health shows that although the Dominican Republic meets international benchmarks for the overall availability of doctors and nurses, the country faces a severe shortage of nursing personnel, requiring more than 48,000 additional nurses to reach global standards.

The study confirms that the nation surpasses the WHO/PAHO target of 44.5 doctors and nurses per 10,000 inhabitants, reaching 56.3 health professionals. However, when examining nurses alone, the density drops to 26 per 10,000 people, far below the recommended 70.6.

The census highlights that 81.1% of the health workforce is female, and 58.3% are between 25 and 44 years old, indicating a young professional base. Nearly all staff members—99.7%—are Dominican.

In terms of academic preparation, 48.9% of personnel hold a university degree, 20.3% have postgraduate studies, and 30.8% are technical staff, reflecting a balanced mix of advanced and operational training.

Doctors represent 37.3% of the workforce, followed by nursing staff at 32.1%, together accounting for almost 70% of all health personnel. Regionally, the Ozama area concentrates 36.6% of the sector’s workforce, with the National District hosting 23.9% of all positions.

Overall, the survey recorded 107,174 job positions, with 92.8% dedicated to direct care, underscoring the heavy demand placed on public and private health services.