President of the Chaguanas Chamber of Industry and Commerce Richie Sookhai has recommended that the public private partnership (PPP) business development model be used to fully activate the Couva Children's Hospital. Sookhai said delays in bringing the facility into full operations could end up costing the nation dearly.
He said while the cost of a fully operational hospital could add to already high demands on Government's cash resources, the PPP model could ease that burden and should be adopted to ensure there are no further delays.
Sookhai noted that there are "a number of well-respected children's facilities in other countries that have an interest in expanding services into the Caribbean region."
He said: "Exploring partnerships with foreign specialist facilities could mean that some of the bed capacity of the hospital is assigned to private sector healthcare, and the rest of the bed capacity is hospital to full operation and serving the healthcare needs of children, the PPP approach could mean that our local healthcare practitioners can be exposed to new and emerging healthcare methods and ultimately benefit the local health system."
"The venture can help with diversification in other sectors, for example, medical tourism and sport tourism. So many sporting events take place in the Caribbean and this hospital can stand as a beacon in this region to cater for the athletics, while providing world class service."
Sookhai added: "We have a facility that is completed and ready for operations, and we have a public that is increasingly in need of specialist care for children. Further delays will have a negative impact on us in having to maintain a non-functioning facility, and more than that, not being able to provide appropriate care for sick children."