The Dominican Republic's healthcare system is strengthening its operational capabilities in preparation for the 2026 Central American and Caribbean Games.

The Dominican Republic announces the deployment of over 500 doctors and 200 healthcare centers for the 25th Central American and Caribbean Games in July 2026. (Illustrative Image: Infobae) The Dominican public health system will deploy more than 500 specialized doctors and enable over 200 healthcare centers to meet the health needs of the 25th Central American and Caribbean Games 2026, which will be held in the Dominican Republic next July. Care will be free for all participants: athletes, delegations, and visitors will have free access to consultations and basic medications for conditions such as hypertension and diabetes, both in the complex's hospitals and in the rest of the enabled network. The Dr. Luis Eduardo Aybar Health City will serve as one of the main healthcare response centers during the event. This complex includes specialties such as sports medicine, arthroscopy, neurosurgery, cardiology, internal medicine, and maternal and child care. It also houses the Dr. José Joaquín Puello Herrera General and Specialty Hospital and the Julio Manuel Grullón Maternal and Child Hospital. The executive director of the National Health Service (SNS), Julio Landrón, led a tour of the facilities with directors of media outlets and representatives of the national press, who were able to learn firsthand about the operational, technological, and immediate response capabilities of the complex's hospitals. The Dominican public health system will deploy more than 500 specialized doctors and enable over 200 healthcare centers to meet the health needs of the 25th Central American and Caribbean Games 2026, which will be held in the Dominican Republic next July. "The Dominican public health system is prepared to provide medical assistance with high standards of quality to all participants in the Central American and Caribbean Games," said Landrón. He highlighted that the healthcare network has trained personnel, advanced technology, and a strengthened hospital network. The director of the Ozama Regional Health Service, Edisson Féliz Féliz, emphasized the preparation of the staff and the Health City's ability to provide an immediate response to any eventuality during the competitions. The president of the Organizing Committee of the Games, José Monegro, valued the integration of the public network in the health planning of the event and recognized the progress of the Dominican hospital system in recent years. The 25th Central American and Caribbean Games will bring together more than 6,200 athletes from 37 delegations in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, between July 24 and August 8, 2026, in an edition that coincides with the centenary of Centro Caribe Sports and is projected as the largest logistical deployment in the country's history, with investments of over RD$5.000 million in infrastructure, according to the official website of the Presidency of the Dominican Republic. This edition is of particular relevance for several unprecedented reasons. According to President Luis Abinader on the presidencia.gob.do website, the event not only involves the participation of athletes from 37 countries and territories, but also an unprecedented deployment in terms of organization, with a torch relay called "Ruta Wiche García Saleta: the flame of values" that will cross the 31 provinces and the National District of the country, honoring Juan Ulises García Saleta, a promoter of Dominican Olympism. The Dominican Republic is starting the torch relay for the 2026 Central American and Caribbean Games and is dedicating the route to the legacy of Wiche Saleta. (Courtesy: Government of the Dominican Republic) This symbolic journey officially began on May 6, 2026, in Pedernales. This is the third time that the Dominican Republic has hosted the regional event, after the experiences in 1974 and 1986, according to infobae.com. The competitions will be distributed in several regions: the National District will host 26 venues, Santo Domingo 23, Santiago and Bonao will each have two venues, while Punta Cana, Cabarete, Baní, and Juan Dolio will each have one venue, according to data from presidencia.gob.do. Among the confirmed disciplines are athletics, swimming, baseball, volleyball, and equestrian sports, within a total program of 40 sports and 56 disciplines. To meet the demand for accommodation and leave a social benefit after the games, the government has planned the construction of the Central American and Caribbean Village, infrastructure that, once the event is finished, will be converted into low-cost housing for Dominican families.