Quoted by the press this Wednesday, the minister addressed the alleged advantages offered by the legislation approved the day before by the Legislative Assembly, despite some conflicting opinions from the medical profession.

With a majority of 57 votes out of 60 from the ruling party and its allies, the legislature approved the proposal opposed by three representatives from the Nationalist Republican Alliance (Arena) and VAMOS.

The president of the Assembly, Ernesto Castro, of Nuevas Ideas, defended the initiative, which in his opinion does not dismantle the current health system but rather improves it. Representative Francisco Lira accused the Executive Branch of dismantling it and bringing foreign specialists to the country.

The bill establishes a board of directors whose president will be appointed by the Presidential Palace and will include the Minister of Health, a director appointed by the National Directorate of Municipal Works (DOM), and a director appointed by the National Directorate of Public Procurement (Dinac).

In his statements, the Minister said that the first hospital to join the Network will be Rosales National Specialized Hospital, which is currently being expanded; the rest will join as standards are met.

The new structure will have a centralizing role and will support the Ministry of Health with infrastructure, equipment, medications, supplies, and specialized personnel; it will grant concessions for the benefit of health, build or remodel hospitals or health centers, and supply hospitals with medications, among other things.

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