DominicanToday.com - Anti-riot Police fired tear gas canisters at the Public Health Ministry’s branch offices in downtown Santo Domingo Wednesday morning, to force the doctors and nurses who occupied it since yesterday, to demand a wage increase and other grievances.

Police agents have cordoned off the Metropolitan Nucleus Zero Health Service, located at Doctor Delgado street, adjacent to the National Palace.

Dominican Medical Association (CMD) president Waldo Ariel Suero said by telephone, since the journalists were barred entry, that the situation of the occupants is critical. He said the gases have irritated their eyes and other parts of their bodies.

Suero has led the CMD members in numerous and as yet unsuccessful protests for a pay raise, and have been the target tear gas.