Dominican Republic

Access to healthcare in the Dominican Republic is limited. The government devotes approximately one percent of gross domestic product (GDP) to healthcare, resulting in over half of all healthcare expenses being funded by the people themselves. Although a socialized healthcare program is available to the poor, this healthcare is often considered to be understaffed and inadequate. The leading causes of death in the Dominican Republic are Ischemic heart disease, cerebrovascular disease, lower respiratory infections, Alzheimer’s disease, and diabetes. It is believed that a large number of deaths and illnesses in the Dominican Republic can be avoided by increased access to care and basic health and nutritional education.