Public health network expands to 484 emergency mental health beds across the Dominican Republic

SNS reaches 484 beds for mental health crisis care in the Public Network of Health Services (Photo courtesy of SNS)The National Health Service (SNS) of the Dominican Republic has expanded to 484 the beds designated for mental health crisis care in the public network, distributed across 65 Crisis Intervention Units (UIC) operating in hospitals in the country's ten health regions. The information was released by the agency through its official portal. According to the SNS, the units are prepared to evaluate, stabilize, and treat patients experiencing acute mental health episodes within specialized hospital spaces. The capacity is distributed among the Ozama, Yuma, Higuamo, Valdesia, Cibao Norte, Nordeste, Noroeste, Enriquillo, El Valle, and Cibao Sur Regional Health Services. The goal of the territorial distribution is to bring these services closer to patients from different areas of the Dominican Republic. The UICs are part of municipal, provincial, regional, and referral hospitals. Among the facilities included are the Dr. Darío Contreras University Teaching Hospital, the Dr. Vinicio Calventi General Hospital, the Salvador B. Gautier Hospital, the José María Cabral y Báez Regional University Hospital, the Juan Pablo Pina Regional Teaching Hospital, and the Dr. Jaime Mota Regional University Hospital. The SNS reported that this network has 65 units and 484 beds to handle mental health emergencies, an infrastructure that was incorporated into the Public Network of Health Services to respond to situations requiring immediate intervention. The network has 65 mental health units distributed across the country's ten health regions (Photo courtesy of SNS)Part of the enabled units serves children and adolescents. Among them are those installed in the Dr. José Manuel Rodríguez Jimenes Children's Hospital, formerly known as Santo Socorro; the Dr. Robert Reid Cabral Pediatric Hospital; the Francisco Antonio Gonzalvo Maternal and Children's Provincial Hospital; the Dr. Arturo Grullón Regional University Children's Hospital; and the Ricardo Limardo Hospital, in Puerto Plata. Coverage also extends to adolescents and adults. The Nuestra Señora de Regla Provincial Hospital, located in Baní, has a service for people aged 14 and older. According to the agency, the inclusion of units in pediatric centers allows mental health crisis care to include differentiated services according to patients' ages. The SNS noted that it enabled Crisis Intervention Units in specialized institutions and maternity hospitals to expand the availability of care for populations requiring specific services. The units are intended for the evaluation, stabilization, and management of patients requiring care for acute mental health situations. (Photo courtesy of SNS)The network includes the Nuestra Señora de la Altagracia Maternity Hospital, in Santo Domingo, and the Jaime Sánchez Maternity Hospital, in Barahona. Both institutions were incorporated into the mental health crisis care scheme within the public system. With the beds now available, the SNS indicated that it is approaching its goal of reaching 500 beds for mental health crisis care before the end of 2026. The executive director of the SNS, Julio Landron, announced investments in infrastructure and hospital equipment in La Vega to expand the capacity of the public health network. The main project is the La Vega Regional Maternal and Children's Hospital, whose construction requires an investment of RD$486,366,043.83. The facility will serve women, newborns, children, and adolescents in the Cibao Central region. The package also includes the renovation of health centers, the incorporation of new equipment, and the establishment of specialized units. The announcements were made during the sixty-second Council of Ministers, led by President Luis Abinader with the participation of Vice President Raquel Peña.