SEMMA deficit is more than RD$100 million
Diario Libre
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC.- The deficit at the Teacher's Health Insurance is more than RD$100 million according to a preliminary study presented by two consultants to the Special Commission that is evaluating the situation.
"Just in terms of health services there might be some RD$73 million and when everything is looked at, there is more than a hundred (million pesos)," said Maria Teresa Cabrera, the former president of the Dominican Association of Teachers (ADP), and one of the participants in yesterday's meeting at the Semma headquarters.
During the encounter, that extended for more than two hours, the Commission, of which Cabrera is a member, approved the hiring of the services of a consulting firm in order that it carryout a complete audit of the Health Insurance and the two Health Assistance Providers that are under contract.
An audit will also be carried out on the construction of the Semma Hospital in Santo Domingo where, supposedly, there are indications of irregularities in the contracting of the project.
The commission, headed by the Minister of Education Melanio Paredes, agreed at the same time to create a multidisciplinary team to intervene and accompany the whole process of re-engineering that has to be done in the Semma.
With the audit results, responsabilities, if there are any, will be identified according to Cabrera who spoke to the Diario Libre. The commission had previously proposed the names of three auditing firms, but one had yet to be chosen.
Cabrera said, "The minister is optimistic, he believes that the situation will be resolved, and that it will help Semma be more effective, offer better services and be more efficient."
Beside the Minister of Education and Cabrera, Valentin Medrano, in representation of the National Teachers Coop (Coopnama); Marisa Rossi, the director of the Teachers Welfare Institute; Radhames Camacho, the president of the Dominican Teachers Association (ADP) and Alberto Fiallo the Presidential advisor on health issues were also at the meeting.
The Semma Health Insurance is composed of a board of Directors that takes the important decisions. There is an administrative team that carries out the administrative decisions, and it is composed of an executive director, and administrative and financial directors. This group will remain in Semma until the results of the audits are made known and responsabilities are assigned.
The Semma crisis came to light in the middle of last month after several clinics that were under contract suspended service to teachers due to the more than RD$200 million that they were owed.
The Special Commission authorized audits for the Health Insurance Service, the Health Service Provider and Semma-SD.
In spite of the fact that the clinics have re-established health services, teachers consulted by Diario Libre at Semma headquarters said that they are not pleased with the Health Insurance Provider to which they belong, saying it is deficient. "This is going from bad to worse. We used to be taken care of in a private medical clinic and we were not charged any co-payments for consults, but now we have to pay," explained teacher Maritza Tineo, who had to make a RD$200 co-payment for her last consultation. Another complaint is for the number of steps it takes to authorize a service.
"Just in terms of health services there might be some RD$73 million and when everything is looked at, there is more than a hundred (million pesos)," said Maria Teresa Cabrera, the former president of the Dominican Association of Teachers (ADP), and one of the participants in yesterday's meeting at the Semma headquarters.
During the encounter, that extended for more than two hours, the Commission, of which Cabrera is a member, approved the hiring of the services of a consulting firm in order that it carryout a complete audit of the Health Insurance and the two Health Assistance Providers that are under contract.
An audit will also be carried out on the construction of the Semma Hospital in Santo Domingo where, supposedly, there are indications of irregularities in the contracting of the project.
The commission, headed by the Minister of Education Melanio Paredes, agreed at the same time to create a multidisciplinary team to intervene and accompany the whole process of re-engineering that has to be done in the Semma.
With the audit results, responsabilities, if there are any, will be identified according to Cabrera who spoke to the Diario Libre. The commission had previously proposed the names of three auditing firms, but one had yet to be chosen.
Cabrera said, "The minister is optimistic, he believes that the situation will be resolved, and that it will help Semma be more effective, offer better services and be more efficient."
Beside the Minister of Education and Cabrera, Valentin Medrano, in representation of the National Teachers Coop (Coopnama); Marisa Rossi, the director of the Teachers Welfare Institute; Radhames Camacho, the president of the Dominican Teachers Association (ADP) and Alberto Fiallo the Presidential advisor on health issues were also at the meeting.
The Semma Health Insurance is composed of a board of Directors that takes the important decisions. There is an administrative team that carries out the administrative decisions, and it is composed of an executive director, and administrative and financial directors. This group will remain in Semma until the results of the audits are made known and responsabilities are assigned.
The Semma crisis came to light in the middle of last month after several clinics that were under contract suspended service to teachers due to the more than RD$200 million that they were owed.
The Special Commission authorized audits for the Health Insurance Service, the Health Service Provider and Semma-SD.
In spite of the fact that the clinics have re-established health services, teachers consulted by Diario Libre at Semma headquarters said that they are not pleased with the Health Insurance Provider to which they belong, saying it is deficient. "This is going from bad to worse. We used to be taken care of in a private medical clinic and we were not charged any co-payments for consults, but now we have to pay," explained teacher Maritza Tineo, who had to make a RD$200 co-payment for her last consultation. Another complaint is for the number of steps it takes to authorize a service.
Diario Libre
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