Download Medical/Dental Clinics in the Dominican Republic

Medical/Dental Clinics in the Dominican Republic
(Updated March 2016)
If your volunteer group is interested in offering a clinic – medical or dental – while in
the Dominican Republic, here is some helpful information to be aware of.
At this time the Dominican Republic does not require a medical professional to have a
permit to participate in a volunteer clinic in the country. But our in-country Maranatha
staff recommends that you carry a copy of your professional license with you while
you are in the DR.
We also ask that all medical professionals send a copy of their current license and a
brief CV to Maranatha’s office for our records within 2-3 weeks before departing on
your mission trip. Along with these documents, please send the ‘Requirements for
Medical Dental Staff’ form in our Medical packet that has the information about the
dates and what group your volunteers are with.
Once you know you are planning to offer a clinic while in the D.R., do let us know.
This information will be passed on to our in-country Maranatha staff so they can help
you with planning a location either on a pre-trip or via email/basecamp. It is helpful to
be connected with a medical professional in the D.R. to ask questions and as a back
up for any reason. Maranatha volunteers have connected well with two D.R. medical
professionals in the past:
1. Dr. Samuel Peña, DDS: [email protected]
Dr. Peña is an Adventist dentist in the D.R. who has organized groups of dental and
medical professionals to do outreach clinics there. He has worked with young people
on clinics and given them training prior to starting the clinic. Dr. Pena has also
assisted Maranatha in pricing and purchasing instruments and dental supplies.
2. Dr. Vickaurys Natalis Suero Paulino, MD: [email protected]
Dr. Paulino is a physician from the Nuevos Horizontes Church, a church Maranatha
built in March 2014.
In addition:
The Adventist hospital in Santo Domingo is interested in partnering to implement
community outreach programs in that area. The Union Conference office also has
dental chairs and mobile dental units. ADRA personnel in country have also been
helpful to volunteer groups.
Be sure to have the Maranatha Customs Letter easily accessible as you travel into the
Dominican Republic with your clinic medicines and supplies. If you are asked any
questions, you can show it to the customs authorities. We have been told that the
SDA Church in the D.R. has certification that protects volunteers in the event that
Customs authorities want to charge duty on these clinic items.
Medications for Your Clinic
Volunteer Groups often carry medications and supplies with them for their clinics. There are
medications available in country as well. You will find that some medications are cheaper in
the D.R. and some are more expensive.
The Promesecal pharmacy lists their prices at this link: http://promesecal.gob.do/wpcontent/uploads/2015/05/LISTADO-DE-PRECIOS-MAYO-2015.pdf The exchange rate of the
D.R. Peso to the US dollar is about 45 pesos to $1 in March 2016. Note: The price is for one
pill, not for the blister pack; i.e. Acetaminophen blister has 10 pills (10 tabletas/units).
Their prices have been known to be cheaper in the past - state institution, supply quality
meds and medical supplies, located around the country, and sell at affordable prices. They
sell generic drugs cheaper than other laboratories.
Other pharmacies with similar prices are:
Buen Samaritano:
Laboratorio Alfa: http://www.laboratoriosalfa.com /809-544-0222
Dr. Karina Bautista (ADRA Dominican Republic 2013) also shared: “If we ask through the
SDA Church Conference in advance, sometimes medications can be obtained for free, for
mission outreach.”
Medical Needs You May Find in the D.R.:
Flu, colds, diarrhea, parasites, tonsillitis, anemia, respiratory problems, pediatric infections,
fungal infections, vaginitis, skin problems, skin ulcers, dental, and ophthalmic symptoms.
Medical Services in the Country:
1. Most hospitals are in the downtown area of Santo Domingo. There are three hospitals
in Santo Domingo with free services: Morgan Hospital, Moscoso Puello Hospital, Dario
Contreras Hospital (Trauma Center for fractures, severe injuries, etc.) The patients
seen there are usually emergencies, accidents and OB deliveries. Hospitals don’t have
enough beds for everyone; only important cases are in the hospital with all patients
discharged as quickly as possible.
2. For general diagnoses, people have to wait months to get an appointment due to large
numbers of people on waiting lists. Both nationals and foreigners are attended to with
the majority of the foreigners being the very poor from Haiti, usually in D.R. illegally.
The majority of the people do not have health insurance.
3. People are definitely interested in the free Maranatha volunteer clinics, much closer to
their homes than hospitals and no waiting for appointments.
4. There is a great need for dentists and medical specialists. Ophthalmology, Dental, and
Dermatology specialties are needed in the D.R. Visits to these specialists are very
expensive, and only provided if it is an emergency
Thank you for being willing to use your skills and experience to bless others on your
Dominican Republic mission trip.