Health cannot wait

Public health cannot become a hostage to disagreements between authorities and medical staff. The 24-hour national strike called for this Tuesday by the Dominican Medical Association once again brings to the table a problem that demands solutions: labor conflicts in public hospitals end up harming those who need their services the most. And although emergencies and critical care will continue to operate, thousands of patients also depend on consultations, treatments, and procedures that should not suffer interruptions.

Doctors have the right to demand better working conditions, the payment of incentives, compliance with agreements, and the necessary resources to work with dignity. Their demands deserve concrete responses, not promises that are repeated every time a protest is announced. But the reality of patients who wait weeks or months for an appointment, who travel from distant communities, or who make financial sacrifices to receive care cannot be ignored either. For many Dominican families, the public hospital is not just another alternative: it is their only option.

The Government, through the National Health Service, has the responsibility to guarantee care and address the causes of these conflicts. It is not enough to call for dialogue once the strike has already been called. It is necessary to fulfill commitments, establish clear deadlines, and maintain permanent communication with the union. Likewise, the Medical Association must exercise its legitimate right to protest while ensuring the least possible harm to the population. Defending doctors’ working conditions and protecting patients are not opposing causes. Both are essential to have a functioning health system.

The quality of public health is not measured solely by new hospitals, modern equipment, or investment announcements. It is also measured by the ability to provide care when people need it. Authorities and the medical profession must find lasting solutions, with verifiable commitments and the will to fulfill them. The country needs less confrontation and more results. Because behind every suspended appointment there is a person waiting, and when it comes to health, the time lost can also cost lives.