Santo Domingo, DR. – The National Health Service (SNS) reported that it continues to strengthen mental health care through the expansion of services, the development of new infrastructure, and prevention programs, as part of the actions promoted by the Government to improve the population’s access to these services.
The executive director of the SNS, Dr. Julio Landrón, explained that the public network currently has 314 crisis intervention beds, distributed in different hospitals across the country, and that the goal is to exceed 500 beds before the end of 2026, with the purpose of ensuring that all provinces have the capacity to attend to mental health emergencies.
Landrón pointed out that the institution also carries out orientation and awareness sessions aimed at families and the general population, with the goal of promoting the early detection of mental disorders, reducing stigma, and facilitating timely access to specialized services.
Likewise, he indicated that the SNS has strengthened mental health units in public hospitals with the incorporation of psychiatrists, psychologists, and specialized teams for the care of patients in crisis. In addition, work is underway to expand medical residencies in Psychiatry to train new specialists and reduce the shortage of professionals in different regions of the country.
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In the field of infrastructure, the official reported that construction work on new Psychosocial Centers in Higüey and Moca is progressing, while the opening of another specialized center is scheduled for August. He also announced the commissioning of the first Child Mental Health Center in the Public Network, which will operate in the facilities of the former Santo Socorro Hospital, now Manuel Rodríguez Jiménez Hospital.
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The new center will have more than 17 inpatient beds and will offer comprehensive care for children and adolescents with mental health disorders. In addition, the SNS is working on the creation of the Institute of Neurosciences at the Luis Eduardo Aybar Health City, where the national psychiatry residency will operate and specialized services will be provided for the treatment of highly complex mental and neurological diseases.
The authorities stated that these initiatives are part of the strategy to consolidate a more accessible, modern, and responsive mental health network, guaranteeing specialized and timely care for the population throughout the national territory.
