Rahael: EWMSC will be ready

HEALTH Minister John Rahael is confident the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex (EWMSC) in Mt Hope will have all the necessary infrastructure in place by January 1, to provide free medical treatment to all citizens. In delivering the 2004/2005 Budget at the House of Representatives last Friday, Prime Minister Patrick Manning announced that from January 1,  “all medical services including the use of medical facilities offered at the EWMSC, will be free to all nationals of Trinidad and Tobago.” Clinical director of the EWMSC Adult Priority Care facility, Dr Helmer Hilwig, supported the idea of free medical services at the institution but was uncertain whether it would be realised by the date announced by Manning. Hilwig said the EWMSC needed more surgical wards, medical wards and nurses if it was to provide such a level of service to the population.

Rahael told Newsday yesterday while, “it’s a challenge,” the EWMSC will be able to provide free medical treatment to the entire population from January 1, and Government has made its intent very clear on this matter. He added that with a known deadline, the ministry and all other stakeholders will be aware they have a set time period to prepare the EWMSC to provide a heightened level and quality of health care. Rahael said it would cost Government $25 million to subsidise the free medical service it plans to introduce at EWMSC. In outlining Government’s vision for health in the Budget, Manning said the EWMSC had a pivotal role to play in the realisation of this vision. The EWMSC will be expanded to include facilities for the treatment of cataract, glaucoma and other types of eye surgery as well as a full cardiac centre to perform increased heart surgery. In June, Rahael signed an agreement with the Canadian government to establish a National Oncology centre at the EWMSC.