CMD strike over surgeon arrest disrupts hospitals, sparks patient outcry

The Dominican Medical College (CMD) launched a 24-hour national strike on Tuesday, July 7, 2025, at 8:00 a.m., protesting the arrest of bucomaxilofacial surgeon William Almánzar and his assistant brother Franklin on allegations of malpractice that caused permanent harm to a patient in La Vega. The strike has left hundreds of patients stranded at public hospitals across the country. Source: hoydo, listindiario

Reasons for the strike

The CMD argues the arrest violates due process and the constitutional presumption of innocence. President Waldo Ariel Suero (according to Listín Diario) called it "arbitrariedades y abusos de poder que flagelan el ejercicio de la medicina." Source: listindiario Meanwhile, other outlets report CMD President Luis Peña Núñez stating the same position, highlighting an apparent discrepancy in the leadership named. Source: elcaribe, diariolibre The CMD also filed an unconstitutionality action against provisions of the new Penal Code that they say increase medical liability. Source: elcaribe

Impact on patients

Patients expressed anger at being turned away after traveling long distances. "Yo llegué desde las 6:30 de la mañana, tengo desde esa hora esperando. Entonces se me informa que los médicos, por cuestiones del paro, no van a venir en el día de hoy," said patient Leoncio Lantigua. Source: hoydo Another patient, Ramona Henríquez, lamented: "Hay que gastar dinero en balde porque no recibimos la consulta y tampoco hay quien nos ponga la cita." Source: hoydo However, some patients supported the strike, understanding the doctors' grievances. Source: hoydo

Differing views

The CMD insists the arrest is arbitrary and that the doctors presented themselves voluntarily but were not shown the arrest warrant. Source: elcaribe In contrast, the prosecutor of La Vega, Aura Luz García Martínez, stated they have sufficient evidence that Franklin Almánzar practiced illegally without a license and caused permanent injury, and they requested pretrial detention. Source: listindiario The hearing for the measure was postponed to coincide with the start of the strike. Source: listindiario

Despite the strike, the CMD guaranteed that emergency rooms, intensive care units, and already hospitalized patients would continue to receive care. Source: diariolibre