The Ministry of Health will soon be approaching Cabinet for approval to upgrade three major medical institutions.
Significant improvements to the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex, as well as the Port-of-Spain and San Fernando General Hospitalcould be facilitated by government-to-government arrangements, Health Minister Fuad Khantold reporters yesterday.
Heexpressed concerns about the development of the public healthcare system, advocating a move towards a modern, scientific and customer-focused environment in the next five to 25 years.
Khan was speaking after the unveiling of the development master plans at the Hyatt Regency, Port-of-Spain yesterday.
He smiled as he fielded questions from reporters about the possibility that these plans could be scrapped if there was a change of government after the upcoming general elections.Heexpressed confidence that the government will be returned to office and that the plan would be approved.
Artistic impression of the proposed refurbishment to the San Fernando General Hospital.
The plan was his idea,Khan said, and it was shared one year ago when it was agreed to fund the groundbreaking initiative. The initiative also included the preparation of a business case for each hospital's master plan, and providing cost estimates for the execution of the three plans over a 25-year period.
On July 1, 2014, the ministry embarked on the project,using country loan funding from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), through the Ministry of Public Administration in the amount of $16,432,903.12. The contract was awarded through a competitive international tendering process to a consortium led by B+H Architects of Canada.
The consultancy team included representatives from KPMG Canada and T&T, KMD Architects of the US, Resource Planning Group Inc. of Canada, and Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre of Canada.
A high-level steering committee comprised of officials from the ministries of health and public administration, as well as people from all the regional health authorities ensured the project was completed on time and within budget.
The team reportedly conducted site visits to the three hospitals to collect data, which was used as a guide in the development of each hospital and the projected growth in clinics, programmes and space.
Declaring that it was just about to begin construction, Khan said they were considering an offer from the UK government to assist in the refurbishment of the 150-year-old Port-of-Spain General Hospital, and that the Urban Development Corporation of T&T (Udecott) had already "done due diligence" in preparing the facility for the upgrade.
He said he hoped that the UK, Canadian and Dutch governments will become involved in the arrangements.
He said such arrangements will result in the host country only having to source 15 per cent of the cost, with the assisting country absorbing 85 per cent of the total cost each time.
Khan said the dilapidated sections of the Port-of-Spain General Hospital needed to be replaced immediately, while major refurbishment work was needed to bring the institution up to first-world status.
He added that he wanted to engage the same team of consultants to develop similar plans for the St Ann's Mental Hospital. He described that move as a top priority for government.