Santo Domingo.- Attorney Anderson Montero publicly condemned the Dominican Republic’s healthcare system after a distressing personal experience that he described as “painfully real.” In a social media post, Montero recounted the desperate search for blood for a critically ill family member—only to be denied assistance without explanation.

Montero explained that a local blood bank refused to provide the blood, claiming it was “reserved,” and offered no alternatives. However, when he returned after contacting a powerful acquaintance, he received the needed help from the very same staff member who had previously turned him away. The incident, which occurred at the Dominican Red Cross and Plaza de la Salud, highlights how access to life-saving services can depend on personal connections rather than medical need.

Deeply troubled, Montero called for a comprehensive review of the nation’s healthcare system, criticizing what he sees as a system dominated by favoritism and influence. “If this happens to me, someone with some connections, imagine those who have no one. It’s a disgrace,” he said, concluding, “This is our country. And it hurts.”

Thirty-six students from The University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus are now officially doctors after completing the five-year medical programme with the best results in recent years.

The new graduates took the Hippocratic Oath on Thursday during a ceremony at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Auditorium.

Dean of the Faculty of Medical Sciences, Dr. Damian Cohall, said 36 of the 37 students passed the final clinical exams, while another was granted a medical exemption.

Fourteen earned honours and four received distinctions, figures he described as among the highest the faculty has seen in the last five years. (SM)

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Barbadians now have a new comprehensive healthcare option with the opening of Bayview Laboratory at the new Bayview Urgent Care. Previously located on George Street in Belleville, Bayview Lab has joined its sister companies, Diagnostic Radiology Services and Bayview Hospital, to provide complete, patient-centered care under one roof.

Bayview Urgent Care, along with its laboratory and diagnostic radiology departments, is now open to the public with phased operating hours. In June, it will operate daily from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., extending to midnight in July and transitioning to a full 24-hour service by August.

Well known across Barbados for its HPV and STI-4 self-collection kits, Bayview Lab has expanded its diagnostic capabilities to include a broad range of new tests. These include liver and kidney function tests, prenatal and thyroid panels, as well as screenings for colorectal, ovarian, prostate, and other types of cancer. In addition, the laboratory has enhanced its STI testing services to screen for Hepatitis B and C, Herpes Simplex Virus Types 1 and 2, Syphilis, and HIV (including both antibody and antigen testing).

Medical Laboratory Director, Dr Lyndon Waterman, described this expansion as phase one of the lab’s broader rollout.

“Our goal is to serve as a comprehensive health partner by equipping physicians with the diagnostic tools they need to provide exceptional care. As part of this effort, we will be introducing phlebotomy services starting July 1, 2025, allowing walk-in patients to access lab services more easily,” he explained.

At the official opening ceremony of Bayview Urgent Care, Hospital Administrator Jules Reid announced a significant new partnership between Bayview Labs and the international genetics firm, CariGenetics.

“We are thrilled to announce that Bayview Labs has partnered with CariGenetics to offer advanced genetic testing. With these tests, you will have access to Paternity tests, a cancer risk profile, your risk for developing kidney disease, and also a drug profile that guides your clinical team as to which medications will work best for you. These can be especially helpful for supporting mental health.”

Bayview Laboratory’s new home at Bayview Urgent Care marks an essential step in making quality healthcare more accessible to the community. With extended operating hours, a wider range of tests available and exciting new partnerships, the lab is ensuring that Barbadians have access to the quality healthcare they need, when they need it most.

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The theme this year is Addressing Abuse of Older Adults in Long Term Care Facilities: Through Data and Action

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Santo Domingo.- Tourism leader and businessman Frank Rainieri has called for urgent international action in response to the growing environmental threat of sargassum, warning that the region is bracing for more than 31 million tons of the seaweed. Speaking at The Nature Conservancy’s Conservation Summit in the Dominican Republic, Rainieri described sargassum as a “plague” and stressed the importance of creating government-backed research centers to develop sustainable solutions for its collection and reuse.

Despite collaboration with international experts, Rainieri noted that no efficient or economically viable method has yet been found to tackle the seaweed’s rapid spread. He urged that all environmental initiatives in the country be self-sustaining and aligned with nature to ensure long-term viability.

Rainieri, founder of Grupo Puntacana, also shared how the group has turned environmental challenges into conservation opportunities. One key example is water use for golf courses. Faced with the limited capacity of the Punta Cana aquifer, the group pioneered wastewater recycling, now treating and reusing four million gallons daily to irrigate green areas and three golf courses—completely avoiding the use of fresh groundwater.

The group also addressed solid waste management by initiating waste classification and vermiculture (composting with Californian worms). Currently, Grupo Puntacana is implementing Earth Flow, a large-scale organic waste processing system capable of handling up to 3,000 metric tons annually from residences, hotels, restaurants, golf courses, and the Punta Cana Airport.

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