Medical services are delivered without appointment on a first-come, first-served basis. Typically a citizen accesses medical care by arriving at a facility in the morning, signing up for an appointment, and then waiting until their name is called. For the average citizen, it is usual to wait several hours in this manner whenever they seek medical care.

These long wait times in crowded conditions create unnecessary problems and severely reduce the quality of medical care Dominicans receive, potentially making the medical conditions worse.

As an unfortunate example the Coronavirus pandemic took the country by surprise and due to the already poorly organized medical system, it was easily overwhelmed with the surge of Covid-19 cases.

Alegre is exploring the best way to address this situation, with the first step of funding research into a nationwide Online Medical Consultation and Appointment service, commonly referred to as TeleMedicine. This service will allow Dominicans to receive medical attention faster while helping to alleviate the overcrowding and pressure endured by the nation’s medical facilities.