In the context of a sustained increase in traffic accidents nationwide, the Ministry of Public Health and the National Drug Control Directorate (DNCD) of the Dominican Republic have implemented a new measure to address this issue. Both institutions have launched a national study that will evaluate the presence of psychoactive substances in drivers involved in traffic accidents who receive care at trauma hospitals spread across the country.
This initiative seeks to provide relevant information to understand the factors that influence road accidents, and based on that evidence, design more effective public policies for accident prevention and the protection of the population’s health.
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As part of this strategy, the DNCD donated 300 specialized tests for the detection of psychoactive substances, supplies that will be used during the development of the study. The objective is to generate scientific evidence that allows for the identification of the real impact of drug use on traffic incidents and, in this way, strengthen decision-making regarding road safety and public health.
The formal handover of the evidence took place in the presence of the Minister of Health, Víctor Atallah, and the President of the DNCD, Vice Admiral José Manuel Cabrera Ulloa.
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Both officials reaffirmed their entities’ commitment to working in a coordinated manner and to supporting all initiatives that strengthen scientific research and the development of prevention strategies based on verifiable data.
During the activity, Minister Atallah stressed that research represents a key tool for identifying the causes that lead to traffic accidents and for guiding the development of public policies adjusted to the national reality.
He pointed out that the purpose is for all public health decisions to be backed by science. Furthermore, he explained that the results of this study will allow for strengthening the response of the national trauma network and defining interventions aimed at reducing the number of accidents, injuries, and deaths associated with road accidents.
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Atallah thanked the DNCD for its support, which provided the resources for the execution of the investigation, and highlighted that the findings will be fundamental for future prevention actions.
Among the participants, the Vice Minister of Strengthening and Development of the Health Sector, Yudelka Batista, highlighted the importance of articulating the capabilities of public institutions around common goals, and remarked that inter-institutional cooperation must translate into concrete results that benefit the citizenry.
On behalf of the DNCD, Vice Admiral Cabrera Ulloa stated that, in addition to the work of prevention and prosecution of illicit drug trafficking, the institution promotes actions aimed at strengthening research, public health, and the formulation of policies anchored in scientific evidence.
He expressed his interest in the study’s results, convinced that the information obtained will contribute to strengthening prevention strategies, guiding decision-making, and promoting more effective public policies for the benefit of road safety and the health of the Dominican population.
The operational phase of the study is already underway in five trauma hospitals in the country, with the support of the Provincial Health Directorates (DPS), which are participating in the collection of samples from drivers involved in accidents. It is expected that the results will serve to strengthen national prevention strategies and to support decisions aimed at reducing morbidity and mortality associated with road accidents.
The presentation was also attended by the Vice Minister of Risk Management and Environmental Health, Gina Estrella; the Vice Minister of Collective Health, Eladio Pérez; the Director of Health Research, Nelson Martínez, hospital representatives, and officials from both institutions.
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SOURCE: Infobae
