Director of OPS and President of the Dominican Republic for health cooperation and national priorities

Santo Domingo, December 3, 2025 (OPS) – The Director of the Pan American Health Organization (OPS), Jarbas Barbosa, met with the President of the Dominican Republic, Luis Abinader, at the Presidential Palace to advance bilateral cooperation and review strategic areas to continue forging the system of the health of the country.

Participating in the meeting were the Minister of Public Health, Víctor Atallah, the representative of OPS in the Dominican Republic, Alba María Ropero Álvarez, and the Vice-Minister of External Relations, Rubén Silié.

During the meeting, Doctor Barbosa congratulated the President for his leadership and the political priority of the health sector, including the prevention of non-transmissible diseases, as well as the promotion of service standards in different levels of attention.

Respecting the recent advances of the country, destacó the adoption of the HEARTS initiative as the basis for the promotion of the first level of attention; the Firma de la Alianza para la Atención Primaria en Salud, con la República Dominicana as the first country of the region it incorporates; and progress in implementing the CureAll Strategy to improve childhood cancer prevention.

The Director of the OPS reiterates the compromise of the Organization of Defense of the Country in the consolidation of primary health care, including its governance, the promotion of the first level of awareness and the use of innovative technologies. Also express the support of the OPS for the use of Regional Rotary Foundations to expand access to medications, vaccines and essential equipment, removing actions aimed at the elimination of cervicouterine cancer, in line with regional metastases.

Doctor Barbosa concluded that, before the project ascent of the Dominican Republic to the category of country of ingreso alto, it will be fundamental to continue to increase the inversion in health, with the end of consolidating a more robust, equitable and sustainable system.

The OPS and the Gobierno reaffirmed its commitment to safe working conditions combined to improve access to health and safety services and improve health results for all population.