“According to our planning, it is estimated, if there is no variation, that there will be 10 billion this year.” says Dr. Mario Lama of the National Health Service (SNS),  “the pressure of the occupation of the general hospitals total 14% of the resources for Haitian patients,” the official said.

Although the maternity sector receives the most funding, approximately six billion pesos, the doctor emphasized that it is not only parturients and children who require neonatal care, but also patients with HIV, cancer, and those injured in fights or traffic accidents, among other circumstances.

Rivera’s 14% figure refers to the sum of the Public Health budget (8,300 million) and the SNS budget (75,000 million), which totals 83,300 million. The health sector’s overall budget is 123 billion pesos.