THE funding and financing of services at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) continues to be a very sharp thorn in the side of the institution’s operations.
This and much more was frankly revealed by Chief Executive Officer of the QEH, Dr. Dexter James, during the QEH 48th anniversary service at the First Baptist Church of Barbados on Sunday.
He shared that over the past three years the QEH has received an annual allocation of $154 million while expenditure is over $200 million yearly, thus operating with a shortfall of at least $50 million.
“As such, it is clear that the package of services we now offer cannot be sustained with the current level of funding.”“We understand the fiscal realities facing the country…but we implore policy-makers to engage the population on a referendum on the issue of health care financing for the hospital so that we can address financing reforms in a meaningful way,” he commented.
He identified the factors driving this shortfall as the increasing cost of drugs, medical supplies, pharmaceuticals, obsolescence, the practice of defensive medicine by doctors due to the litigious health care environment, pathology, high medical mal-practice coverage costs and other issues.
James dispelled any notion that cutting health care services could be used to reduce the expenditure, but admitted that efficiencies within the QEH could be improved.
He also said that by the end of December, he is “optimistic” that outpatient services for ophthalmology will be relocated to the “more comfortable settings” in the Lions Caribbean Eye Care Centre.
“We anticipate full restoration of our eye theatres by March next year, which will significantly expand our capacity to treat most eye problems in Barbados.”Other capital improvement projects include the current implementation of a full service cardiac suite, which is expected to provide a range of surgical procedures and catherization.
“We have projected a fully functional unit by March 2013,” he noted.
In addition, to help accommodate for the high incidences of cardiovascular disease-related illnesses such as heart attacks and strokes, he says 12 new beds for critically ill patients will be in place by March 2013, thanks to the assistance from the Rotary Club of Barbados West. (EL)
