Dominican leader shakes up Public Health after infants’ deaths

Santo Domingo.- President Danilo Medina on Friday signed an Executive Order which trims the powers wielded by the Public Health Ministry, through its national and regional health services, just five days after 11 infants died at the Robert Reid Children’s Hospital.

The shakeup includes the reorganization of the various departments aimed at bolstering health services in the various regions, whose deficiencies emerged as one of the reasons behind the hospital’s overpopulation of infant patients.

The Order notes that Public Health will continue to oversee collective services and health functions, and instructed the establishment of a standardized management model within 60 days.