PUERTO PLATA | Several Quebec snowbirds who have needed health care in the Dominican Republic say that private clinics and hospitals are of “very good quality”, and that the wait there is almost zero.
Illustration Journal de Montréal
From Puerto Plata to Punta Cana, Quebecers shared with us their experience, after having had to consult a doctor, whether for laryngitis, to treat a urinary infection, a broken foot, or even a hernia.
In all cases, care was received in private establishments. Quebec snowbirds claimed to have been “very well served” in “clean,” modern and “well-organized” clinics.
This is the case, among others, of Pierre Scullion, aged 76, who had to go to the emergency room of the Punta Cana Doctors hospital last year, after breaking his foot falling from a catamaran.
- Listen to the interview with Elisa Cloutier, journalist at Journal de Québec and one of the recipients of the QMI Scholarship on Alexandre Dubé’s show via QUB radio :
“It wasn’t stupid”
The former security guard from Lanaudière presented himself at the emergency room of the Punta Cana Doctors private hospital on a Sunday evening, around 10 p.m. He claims to have been seen by a doctor in less than five minutes. “I immediately had x-rays, then an IV for the pain. It really didn’t go amiss,” relates the septuagenarian, who is spending his fifth winter in Punta Cana.
“Compared to home, it’s night and day. It doesn’t make sense as we had good service, it’s reassuring,” he continues.
Pierre Scullion and Marie-Josée Lavoie, established in the Dominican Republic for the winter, are very satisfied with the services received in the health sector in Punta Cana. They claim to have waited no more than five minutes before seeing a doctor in a private hospital.
Elisa Cloutier
Seeing that the health system was “excellent”, his partner, Marie-Josée Lavoie, decided to seek dental care, by having part of her fillings redone, in the Republic. “Everything went very well. I also had a little surgery,” she describes.
The opinion is the same for Maurice Richard, aged 68, who claims to have been “saved” by Dominican medicine.
Otitis and back pain
Facing significant back problems, Mr. Richard was forced to seek medical advice last year as he was no longer able to move around. “I consulted a multitude of specialists in Quebec and nothing worked. Here, I was given treatment and I saw a great improvement,” mentions the retiree from Terrebonne.
He also says he was very satisfied during a consultation for a severe ear infection. “I believe in medicine here and I am more than satisfied,” he says.
The sixty-year-old also chose to have an operation in Punta Cana this winter, to treat a hernia.
Hospital in Puerto Plata
In Puerto Plata, The newspaper was able to visit the Brugal Medical Center, a hospital frequented by around forty Canadian snowbirds each month, which brings together different specialties. There is, among other things, a unit for cardiology, gastroenterology, pediatrics, gynecology, surgery, intensive care, general medicine, and another reserved for pulmonary diseases.
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The Brugal Medical Center, located in Puerto Plata, receives dozens of Canadian tourists every month.
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There are several specialties, including a cardiology, gynecology and gastroenterology unit, in addition to a unit treating respiratory diseases, general medicine and intensive care.
Elisa Cloutier -
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Here we see a trauma examination room at Brugal Hospital, located in Puerto Plata.
Elisa Cloutier -
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When Le Journal visited Brugal hospital, the premises were clean and well maintained.
Elisa Cloutier -
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The Brugal Medical Center, located in Puerto Plata, receives dozens of Canadian tourists every month.
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There are several specialties, including a cardiology, gynecology and gastroenterology unit, in addition to a unit treating respiratory diseases, general medicine and intensive care.
Elisa Cloutier -
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Here we see a trauma examination room at Brugal Hospital, located in Puerto Plata.
Elisa Cloutier -
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When Le Journal visited Brugal hospital, the premises were clean and well maintained.
Elisa Cloutier -
On site, the owner, the DD Mejia Lopez says there is no wait for foreigners.
“We know they are here on vacation, sometimes on a cruise, and they don’t have a lot of time”
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Photo ELISA CLOUTIER
The former professional gynecologist affirms that Canadian tourists are received quickly, upon their arrival at the emergency room.
During our visit, around twenty people were waiting in the emergency room, where a good number of beds were occupied, without however showing any overflow. The premises were clean and well maintained.
Snowbirds feel safe in the Dominican Republic
Quebec snowbirds say they feel safe in the Dominican Republic, both during the day and in the evening, rejoicing at being able to walk on foot, “in complete freedom”.
All the Quebec tourists met in the Dominican Republic said they felt safe, wherever they ventured on the Caribbean island.
Whether shopping in downtown Puerto Plata, or walking for an end-of-day drink in Punta Cana, or enjoying a meal with friends on the beach of Cabarete or Las Terrenas, the snowbirds encountered by The newspaper are unanimous, affirming that the feeling of security makes this destination “more attractive than elsewhere”.
“Tourists are very protected in the Dominican Republic […] I feel safer in Canada and the Dominican Republic than in the United States”
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Photo ELISA CLOUTIER
The story is the same in Las Terrenas. “I feel very safe walking in the village, even alone. Everywhere I go, it’s really safe and we feel comfortable,” adds Narina Shahbazian, a resident of Eastman, in Estrie, who has already visited the Samana peninsula three times since the start of the year.
Security investments
Recently, the Dominican Minister of Tourism, David Collado, announced an investment of $3M to make the destination “even safer”.
Over the coming months, work will be carried out on public beaches to add, among other things, surveillance cameras, lighting and Wi-Fi terminals.
The tourist police, who patrol public beaches and tourist areas, will also benefit from more staff, confirms Mr. Collado, while nearly 100 new police officers were hired last summer.
“The idea is to provide the police [touristique] technological means and other tools to improve the exercise of its functions, such as more vehicles, motorcycles, among others”
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Photo MARIO BEAUREGARD/AGENCE QMI
With these adjustments, Mr. Collado hopes to eventually lower the level of risk in the recommendations issued by the Canadian government. Currently, Ottawa is asking Canadians to “exercise extreme caution” when traveling to the Dominican Republic. This is the first alert level issued by the Canadian government.
- This report was produced thanks to the International Reporting Grant from the QMI Agency