Minister of Industry, International Business, Commerce and Small Business Development, Donville Inniss.
Cooperation between the public and private sectors must be the order of the day, if this country is to see further growth and development in respect of the local ophthalmological services.
That’s the view of the Minister of Industry, International Business, Commerce and Small Business Development, Donville Inniss. He was addressing the 7th Annual Ophthalmology Conference at the Accra Beach Hotel, as he suggested that such partnerships would assist in making Barbados the Caribbean’s centre of excellence for eye care.
“We must make greater use of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital’s facilities by allowing private investors and investment in the plant and equipment therein. Why should the state continuously struggle with trying to find money to make such investment, when private enterprise can partner with the hospital?” he queried.
He added, “I note and reflect upon the fact that several years ago the Lions group did make a significant contribution to the QEH. We faltered along the way, but we were able to finally open the Lions’ Eye Care Centre and I believe we have some very state-of-the-art equipment therein. I’m told it has really grown out nicely… and I know that my ministerial colleague John Boyce and others are working assiduously to make that, indeed, a very state-of-the-art facility.However we must get the private sector involved.”
Inniss, adamant that the private sector has the means to invest, contended that the public sector must have an open mind and be willing to embrace the private sector’s involvement. Moreover, the former Minister of Health added that some of the key departments in the hospital like ophthalmology, must not only get finances from the private sector to grow out the department, but they should also get “private sector management” involved.
“Gone must be the days when officers in that institution believe that the world revolves around them. You must open your mind and you must open your heart and get private sector involved in the management of key departments of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital,” he said.
The Minister went a step further suggesting there is a need to open up the facilities at State owned institutions, to health care providers other than those currently employed there; he contends it is imperative that there is a sharing of resources at the national level. Inniss said that in his opinion, one of the worst things we can continue to do is to have our health care institutions controlled by a limited few.
“I am afraid that we will start to develop a culture that is not sustainable. We may very well find that we are depriving patients and others of the best skills and technology, as well as denying others an opportunity to hone their skills and to earn a decent living along the way. Why can’t an ophthalmology suite at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital be available for all ophthalmologists in Barbados to utilise, rather than each one of you ophthalmologists having your investments in your private facilities throughout the island?” he added. (JRT)