Dominican Republic: Health protocol reinforces racism in migration policies

Rights group condemns Dominican Republic new health protocol for discriminating migrants

Amnesty International condemned Thursday the Dominican Republic’s new health protocol that requires migrants to provide documentation and pay fees to access public health services. The group argued that the new protocol is discriminatory and may violate international human rights standards. On April 6, the government announced a new health protocol consisting of 15 migration measures. Apart from requiring documentation and fees, a migrant patien…

By Jessica Hasbun, CNN en Español The recent immigration measures implemented by the Dominican Republic government in public hospitals have sparked an international backlash. The United Nations on Thursday questioned the new immigration status verification protocol applied in the country's health centers, noting that the measure could discourage vulnerable people—especially pregnant Haitian women—from seeking medical care. On the first day of th…

Dominican Republic: Health protocol reinforces racism in migration policies

In light of the measures announced on 6 April by the government of Luis Abinader on migration, and in particular the protocol for the access of migrants to public health services in the Dominican Republic, Amnesty International stated:“President Luis Abinader must opt for measures that strengthen the health system. Implementing a system that exposes migrants to deportation after receiving medical care not only violates the right to health, but a…

Dominican Republic.– After sectors denounced that they were supposed to join groups defending the right of undocumented Haitians to reside in the country at Sunday’s march, the Ministry of Interior and Police warned that foreigners are not allowed to carry out marches or political activities within the country. (Continue reading...) La entrada The Interior and Police warning to foreigners was first published in Remolacha - Noticias República Dom…

In recent days, public hospitals have recorded a marked decrease in the number of foreign patients treated. Data collected in several health centres reflect a significant reduction in the attendance of persons of Haitian nationality, especially in maternity hospitals and hospitals of Gran Santo Domingo. The variation in the flow of patients coincides with the application of the new migration verification protocol implemented by the authorities i…

In the Dominican Republic, the Magaly Pineda Feminist Forum denounced the implementation of a new protocol by the National Health Service and the General Directorate of Migration that allows to deny medical care to persons without regularized immigration status and authorizes their immediate deportation. Faced with the measure promoted by Dominican President Luis Abinader, the Magaly Pineda Feminist Forum demanded the immediate repeal of the pro…