Minister of Health and Wellness, Lt. Col Jeffrey Bostic.
Initial plans are already under way for Barbadians to receive a brand new, state-of-the-art Geriatric Hospital.
This is the word from Minister of Health and Wellness, Lt. Col Jeffrey Bostic, as he spoke to the press at the end of a short presentation conducted at the Jama Mosque on Wednesday.
With Barbados’ ageing population being second only to Japan, and the outdated state of the current hospital, the Minister revealed that a new facility will soon be on the
horizon.
“Yes there is a plan to build a new Geriatric Hospital. It is something that as Minister of Health and Wellness, I am looking forward to and that is because I believe that we have not really utilised what the Lord has given us to full effect. We have an ageing population,” he said
Though no immediate timeline was given for the project, as plans are still being looked over by the Ministry of Finance, the Minister made note of the importance of having other specialised facilities on the island, such as a national rehabilitation centre.
“This country needs a national rehabilitation centre, especially with the number of stroke victims, accident victims, diabetics and amputees, and we do not have the capacity at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) or at any of our institutions to fully be able to handle this development,” Bostic stated.
During the recent ‘We Gatherin’ series of initiatives in the parish of St Lucy, the parish’s district hospital received funds from private entities in order to commence much needed repair work to the institution.
When asked if we could see larger private investments, such as privatisation being used at the other district hospitals around the island, the Minister bluntly stated that such plans are not currently being looked at, but any help these hospitals can receive is welcome.
“That is certainly not on the cards at this point in time, and obviously that would be a decision that would have to be taken to a higher level. What I would say is that I welcome and appreciate the fact the Prime Minister made the determination that the philanthropic efforts resulting from the We Gatherin 2020 would, for the most part, go towards the hospitals in Barbados, which will include the district hospitals, because they really need some urgent maintenance and attention. I compliment those in St. Lucy who have so far come to the plate, and the intent is to replicate it throughout the parishes. Not only the hospitals, but even the polyclinics,” he said.
He also hopes that corporate Barbados would also get on board in order to assist in these areas, as the island looks to fully modernise its health care system.