Health Minister turns sod for new dialysis centre
Health Minister Dr Fuad Khan says the construction of a new dialysis centre at the Mt Hope Hospital, through a public-private partnership will save patients from having to go to private institutions and incur exorbitant medical bills.
The agreement between government and Comprehensive Nephrology Services was only signed yesterday, and Dr Khan assures that construction will begin in a month’s time.
He says a dialysis centre for San Fernando is also in the pipelines.
Patterned after international dialysis centres and complete with an operating theatre, nursing facilities and dieticians, Dr Khan says the new centre will ensure that services are available to those who need it most.
Under the 15-year deal, government will not have to pay a cent, and will only have to supply the land needed for the project.
After the 15-year period is over government has the option to renew the partnership or purchase the facility.
Construction will take two years.
Meanwhile, Dr Khan also opened a new nuclear medical unit at the Mt Hope Hospital.
The unit features state of the art equipment.
Dr Khan boasted that a new CT scanner will clear the backlog in much needed scans as the new scanner takes only five seconds to take images, as opposed to a half hour with the old machines.
Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar was scheduled to deliver the feature address at the event but was delayed in Tobago at a previous engagement.