View the full post CARPHA encourages early detection towards preventing kidney disease in Caribbean on NOW Grenada.

View the full post Government provided over EC$4 million subvention to NGO on NOW Grenada.

Santiago de los Caballeros.- The Metropolitan Hospital of Santiago (HOMS) has made history in Dominican medicine by successfully performing the country’s first robot-assisted total gastrectomy for gastric cancer. The groundbreaking procedure was led by Dr. Héctor Sánchez Navarro, deputy director general and head of robotic surgery at HOMS, alongside oncologic surgeon Dr. David Rodríguez and robotic surgery expert Dr. James Hamilton Sánchez.

The patient, a man with type 1 obesity and a history of diabetes, hypertension, and chronic gastroesophageal reflux, was diagnosed with a neoplastic lesion in the stomach after thorough evaluation at the hospital’s Digestive Studies Center (CED). The oncology and robotic surgery teams collaborated to complete the procedure with precision.

This milestone solidifies HOMS as a leader in robotic surgery and cancer treatment in the Dominican Republic. With the launch of its Robotic Surgery Center’s oncology service, the hospital now offers minimally invasive cancer treatments, ensuring faster recovery for patients.

Trisha Tannis, president of the Barbados Private Sector Association, has challenged the government to rethink its strategy on healthy eating, arguing that the latest measure to curb non-communicable diseases –  a ‘sodium tax’ on salty snacks – is insufficient without making nutritious alternatives more affordable for low-income families.

“As much as I support the thrust to reduce NCDs—and it is a must—the government has been congratulated for putting that in the crosshairs,” Tannis said. “But I would like to see an equal amount of strategy and emphasis on reducing the cost of healthy foods because when mothers, particularly in the vulnerable economic population, go into the supermarket, they are not making a nutritional choice. They are making an economic choice.”

Her comments come in response to the government’s latest budget proposal, which introduces new taxes on salted snacks such as potato chips and corn curls in an effort to discourage unhealthy eating habits. Tannis argued that this approach remains “ad hoc” and does not provide struggling families with viable alternatives.

“You simply give that woman an impossible decision to make,” she said, further noting the financial strain that many shoppers face when trying to prioritise nutrition over affordability. 

Tannis stressed the need for a targeted strategy that ensures a significant price reduction on essential fruits, vegetables, and other nutritious foods, suggesting that, just as unhealthy products are being taxed, healthier options should be deliberately made cheaper to empower households to make better dietary choices.

“We need a strategy that says you can pay extra for the bad things, and you can pay less for the good things,” she said. “Essentially, we need to empower households and women who are shopping for their children to make it easy to pick up the healthy things.” 

(SM)

The post BPSA: Make healthy food affordable instead of taxing snacks appeared first on Barbados Today.

Cuba continues to be a trustworthy friend and partner not only of Grenada, not only of the Caribbean but of people the world over

View the full post Grenada has legal and moral obligation to stand with Cuba on NOW Grenada.

Santo Domingo.- The Ministry of Public Health announced that Puerto Río Haina is the first port in the Dominican Republic authorized to issue health certificates, in compliance with the World Health Organization’s International Health Regulations (IHR).

Health Minister Víctor Atallah emphasized the importance of strengthening public health measures at maritime entry points to detect and manage potential disease outbreaks, including cholera, Covid-19, dengue, and Zika. The new office will inspect travelers and vessels to ensure compliance with health standards.

This initiative marks a step forward in modernizing the country’s health management, enhancing disease prevention and control at key commercial and tourist ports.

The 2025 National Nutrition Quiz will be held on 10 April for primary schools and 29 April for secondary schools

View the full post GFNC 2025 National Nutrition Quiz (Part 1) on NOW Grenada.

View the full post Government of Grenada 2025 Budget Statement on NOW Grenada.

Santo Domingo — During the presentation “Diagnosis of Family Health Insurance (SFS) in the Dominican Republic”, Dr. Pedro Ramírez Slaibe explained that 97% of the Dominican population is affiliated to a health regime, either contributory or subsidized.

Currently, 54% of Dominicans are registered under the subsidized regime (5,718,718 people), 45% under the contributory regime (4,704,115 citizens), and the remaining 1% (93,616 people) under the pension modality.

The specialist in Family Medicine made a historical account in which he stressed that Family Health Insurance was created to guarantee universal coverage of health services without exclusions. This includes promotion and prevention, patient rehabilitation, and coverage during pregnancy and postpartum.

It also gives the member the freedom to choose their Health Risk Manager (ARS) and the service provider where they will receive care.

In the event of loss of employment, the patient enjoys all the benefits for 60 days, and after these, his condition will be seen if he continues in the contributory regime or goes to the subsidized regime, where the unemployed and their families, people with disabilities, and those in a situation of destitution receive care.

According to Ramírez Slaibe, this is protected by Article 129 of Law 87-01 on Social Security, which establishes that all citizens have access to a Basic Health Plan, regardless of their social, labor, or economic status and the financial regime to which they belong.

Family Health Insurance came into operation in the Dominican Republic in 2002, and the contributory regime in 2007. Between 2020 and 2021, affiliation with the subsidized regime accelerated, incorporating more than two million people into Social Security, “going from 85% to 97% of the affiliated population we have today,” he said.

The system has 10,516,449 affiliates, and collections rose from 58,565,404,586.57 in its origins to 101,485,179,143.17 in 2024, practically doubling.

“The FSS has made significant progress in terms of health coverage and access in the Dominican Republic, but it continues to face significant challenges in equity, financing and quality of services,” he said.

The population of 46 to 60 years of age grows

According to the doctor, one aspect that is worrying is how age groups have been changing over the years. Today, there is a growth in the population between 46 and 60 years old, which, although it continues to contribute and be productive, is the next to move to the pension system.

“This situation leads to the need to rethink the redefinition of per capita,” he said.

Out-of-pocket expense

Regarding out-of-pocket spending, the director general of the Center for Research and Studies in Health Management explained that despite the fact that it was calculated at 61.24% in 2004 and at 42.2% in 2020, “the reduction has not been so significant,” taking into account inflationary rates.

He pointed out that the most frequent expenses are medicines, uncovered procedures, and co-payments.

Proposals and reforms

Ramírez Slaibe concluded his presentation, which was part of the workshop on Social Security and Health organized by the Social Security for All Foundation (FSSPT), by proposing proposals and reforms for the common welfare.

“The gap between the original design and the current reality reflects the need for profound reforms to ensure the sustainability of the system and guarantee the right to health of the entire population,” he said.

As a possible solution, he proposes reforming the Basic Health Plan, expanding coverage of essential medicines and high-cost treatments, strengthening primary care, and incorporating mental health and rehabilitation services.

Similarly, review the sources of financing of the Basic Plan, implementing the contributory-subsidized regime, which allows informal or unemployed collaborators to continue contributing. It also proposes to establish better cost control mechanisms.

The doctor requested that the network of providers be redesigned and more efficient referral mechanisms implemented, thus guaranteeing greater equitable access to health centers.

Finally, Ramírez Slaibe understands that, to achieve these objectives, a dialogue between the State, the actors of the health system, and civil society is necessary to build a “more efficient, equitable and sustainable” system.

One of three firemen, who were injured while battling the blaze that destroyed Mae’s School in Subryanville, Georgetown, died Saturday night at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), prompting claims by his family of hospital negligence. Voshaun Manbodh (1871), 27, was injured on February 5 when the burning structure collapsed on him and two other ...