President hails Atlantic LNG for its Telehealth programme

He made this remark after highlighting specialised areas in health care which required "sustained attention" including genetics, cardiology, paediatric oncology and renal/kidney management.

Richards said it was clear that these areas needed the kind of support which the University of the West Indies’ Faculty of Medical Sciences was receiving from Atlantic LNG for its Telehealth programme which allows videoconferencing between doctors at the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex, Mt Hope, and Hosptial for Sick Children in Canada.

Richards said the programme envisages access to good health services and timely, less costly, medical consultation for families in TT and the region, many of whom were faced with limited resources to access such services. "It is definitely a great boon that the burden of overseas treatment will be diminished because of audio-visual links that are being set up for diagnostic consultations for the critically ill," he said.

Under the Telehealth system, a user fee will be paid by those who can afford it while a "sliding system" will be used for patients who cannot.

While he could not find fault with the system, Richards suggested that "very careful consideration be given" to clients.

He said it may be very tempting to make judgments based on salaries or address, but it may be necessary to look beneath the surface.

He referred to middle income families, who as many have said "carry the heaviest financial burdens" — income tax being the most visible item.