Health Plan Leaves Families with Bureaucratic Tummy Ache

By Kenza Moller

SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic – In 1977, South Korea began researching a publichealth care plan, Lincoln Sampong, a historian, said. It wasn’t until 1989, after 12 years of planning, that the program was finally inaugurated. Sampong said this is exactly what needs to go into the formation of a health service.

However, the Dominican government has formulated a public health care plan in less time than that, and does not seem to have thought through all the kinks before instating it. 

In South Korea, Sampong points out, there is more transparency in public spending than in the Dominican Republic. The Dominican program, known as Seguro Familiar Social (SFS) was enacted on September 1, 2007. This family health care scheme is mandatory and applies to all working people. Employees must pay 2.56 percent of their monthly salaries, while employers must pay 5.97 percent, for a monthly total of 8.53 percent.

The SFS is widely criticized, although Vice President Rafael Alburqueque noted that a Gallup poll showed 51 percent support for it.

In a separate poll conducted at the Community for Learning (CFL) school, located in Santo Domingo, 30 of 36 workers, or 84 percent -- from the housecleaning staff to teachers -- objected. Just three workers, or 8 percent, supported the program and three more did not comment.

Its supporters said the new system helps the poor, but some business owners say otherwise.While many businesses helped their employees in lower-paying positions pay for private health insurance before, now that they must pay the SFS tax, they can’t afford to pay for both public and private insurances. As a member of the CFL cleaning staff said, “The public health insurance doesn’t cover anything. Nothing is in place and it doesn’t help me at all.” In most cases, they said they preferred being covered by private health care.

“It’s a good idea,” says Lorena Gonzalez, a high school teacher at CFL, “but I don’t agree with how it is being run or the fact that it is mandatory.” One criticism stems from a perceived inequity for those SFS was primarily meant to benefit: families. “If there’s only a single working parent in a family, only that one parent pays,” Carla Meyrink, director of The Community for Learning, said. “However if you both work, you both pay. It hits the middle class hard.”
    
Others questioned where their money is going. Myra van der Ven, another teacher at CFL, claimed that she visited three doctors recently and none accepted the SFS. According to some nurses interviewed at Referencia, a major medical lab, the SFS does not cover any testsperformed by the lab. “It’s a real waste,” Gina Sanchez said. “Where is our money going?”

The main response from CFL employees was that the new program lacks clear directions and specifications. Doctors have not just criticized the program, but they have also gone on strike to protest against reduced wages under SFS.