QEH CEO: Relationships necessary
Chief Executive Officer of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Dexter James (second from right), announcing the launch of the Cataract Initiative as Representative of Lenstec, Anndell Cummins (left); Head of the Ophthalmology Department, Dr. Trevor Drakes; and Director of the Board and Chairperson of the Patient Care Committee, Shelley Weir, look on.
By:
Cara L. Foster
THE public sector cannot do everything on its own and achieve all that it wants and needs to achieve without the help of the private sector.
This realisation was made by Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH), Dexter James, during a press conference, which was held at the hospital yesterday morning. James noted that the Board realised that there needs to be a system-wide approach when it comes to resourcing the public health system. He said that persons cannot continue to believe that the public health system will be able to provide all the resources necessary. James noted that there needs to be a relationship between the public and private sector to ensure that the quality of health care is improved.
Head of the Ophthalmology Department, Dr. Trevor Drakes, announced that the department had certain goals that they would like achieved by the end of the financial year, March 2017, and the only way that they will be able to achieve these goals is with a public/private sector partnership.
James revealed that the launch of the Cataract Initiative is one that has been developed principally by the department, but it involves a public/private sector partnership that was necessary. He revealed that Lenstec made a very gracious and generous donation towards the launch of the programme; a donation that eased the financial strain of the QEH.
Meanwhile, representative of the Lenstec, Anndell Cummins, revealed that when the project was introduced to them back in 2016, they felt that it was something that they wanted to support. She said that regardless of the 20-plus-year relationship that the organisation has with the hospital, they felt like this particular project was seen as a part of their responsibility to support the hospital, and by extension the Barbados community. She said that it is with that view that they have made a commitment to supply the Cataract Initiative with 300 cataract packs, so that they are successful in achieving the goals of the initiative.
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