Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves says the government is making progress in sourcing additional anesetheologists for the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital.
This comes in wake of a situation in June whereby two of the three Anesthesiologist at the hospital were absent from duty due to having fallen ill within a few days of each other, thereby resulting in several planned operations at the Hospital having to be postponed.
Speaking on Wednesday on WEFM”s Morning program, Prime Minister Gonsalves said that the government of Taiwan has agreed to send two anesetheologists to this country on a short term basis and another one hopefully next year on a longer term basis.
He said the first specialist is scheduled to arrive in state on September 9 this year, and will be here for a period of six weeks until October 21, while, a second one is expected to arrive on October 21, and will be here for about one month.
Meanwhile, the Prime Minister also disclosed that while there are currently three senior general surgeons at the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital, arrangements are being made for a general surgeon and an anesetheologist from Cuba to come to work at the hospital.
Dr. Gonsalves said an additional general surgeon for the hospital is being sourced, so as to ensure that sufficient senior general surgery consultants are always available.
He explained that recently, one of the senior general surgeons, Dr. Dougan, had to seek medical treatment overseas, and to facilitate this, another senior surgeon decided to forego his vacation, so as to ensure that the other senior surgeon would have the requisite assistance needed.
The Prime Minister declined to state the cost which will be incurred in having these medical specialists come here to offer their services at the main health care facility, however he said they will have to provide salary for the consultant anesetheologist for the additional period, as well as housing and transport for the medical personnel.
Prime Minister Gonsalves said that thankfully the airfare for the anesetheologists from Taiwan will be funded by the government of Taiwan.
