50 free Goodwill surgeries next month

May 3 is the target date set for first batch of 50 free surgeries under the Goodwill Programme established by Medcorp Ltd to assist needy people on waiting lists for same day surgeries at hospitals in the North West Regional Health Authority (NWRHA). This announcement was made yesterday by Isaacson Byng, chairman of the programme at a media briefing at Good Health Medical Centre on Fitzblackman Drive, Woodbrook. He said four orthopaedic, three urology and 43 general surgeries, mainly for hernia repairs, will be done at St Clair Medical Centre, a member of the Medcorp Ltd group.

Byng also advised of Medcorp’s willingness to assist the NWRHA with additional cases on condition the NWRHA provide the “consumables” for surgeries. At the briefing, Health Minister John Rahael suggested that more private hospitals will be assisting the Health Ministry in clearing the backlog of cases at hospitals. “I am confident that before the end of the month we should be able to get other private hospitals to assist us to deal with waiting lists.” Rahael said 3,000 people are awaiting surgery for cataracts and 11,000 for hernia. Byng said there was an overwhelming response from staff when a data base was being established of surgeons and other employees willing to be involved. He said St Clair Medical sought the assistance of the NWRHA in compiling a patient list because the Social Welfare Division of hospitals would already have persons “who fit the bill.” Byng said: “we are now in the process of obtaining patient history and other relevant information such as lab reports in readiness for their meeting with surgeons.”

Although Medcorp is still trying to estimate the cost of the programme, he said it could not be measured in dollars and cents. Rahael commended the Goodwill Programme, describing it as corporate TT at its best. He lamented that men and women had to wait months and even years in the public system for their names to reach the top of lists to get same day surgery. He said elective surgeries were the most common procedures and included hundreds of surgical procedures (eg cataract, hernia, abscess draining and pace-maker insertion). “Although they are the easiest procedures to have worldwide, they hamper hospitals because the demand is overwhelming. The high demand is not peculiar to TT.”

Despite this, Rahael said a nine-month or three-year wait is unacceptable. Although the surgery programme has not started, Rahael signalled to Medcorp officials his hope that it lasts a few years. “I don’t speak in less than a five-year term. I expect this will be an annual event for at least five years.” Rahael said the Ministry is dealing with waiting lists in the public sector. He said at San Fernando General Hospital there are eight surgical theatres functioning and at Port-of-Spain General Hospital there are four. Rahael announced that the waiting list for paediatric heart surgery has been eliminated though collaboration between a subsidiary of Medcorp Ltd, NWRHA and the Ministry.