Focus on health tourism

A former Minister of Health is suggesting that steps should be taken to make health tourism a more significant contributor to the local economy.

Delivering the feature address at the opening of the 7th Annual Ophthalmology Conference at the Accra Beach Hotel, Minister of Industry, International Business, Commerce and Small Business Development, Donville Inniss maintained that this is a niche market Barbados should capitalise on. He pointed out that the country has a wealth of experience, skills and much of the equipment needed, but what is missing is the marketing.

With that in mind, he told those present that the field of ophthalmology is ripe for such, and insisted that there is an opportunity to market Barbados as the preferred referral centre for ophthalmology care within the Caribbean region. To that end, he has challenged local ophthalmologists to get the ball rolling in that regard.

“I certainly believe that with the skills and resources that we have in Barbados, we really need to get up and market the ophthalmology services throughout the wider Caribbean. Ophthalmologists are not going to survive at the level they wish to survive at if you depend entirely on this small population here in Barbados; you have to look at the wider Caribbean as your market. There is no sense having made that investment in your education, there is no sense the State having made investments in facilities at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, there is no sense you making investment in your private facilities, and then sit and believe your only market can be in Barbados,” he maintained.

Inniss added, “I note the work of the Chief Executive Office of the QEH, Dr. Dexter James in going out in the Caribbean and marketing the Queen Elizabeth Hospital as a referral centre. Recently, last year, he did join a team that I lead on missions in Grenada, St. Lucia and Guyana in particular, to promote Barbados for goods and services… But we need to go further.”

To that end, the Industry and International Business Minister said the time has come for partnerships to be developed with entities like regional air carrier LIAT as well as the hotel sector, to ensure that the country is offering the best package to get citizens from countries across the Eastern Caribbean to come to Barbados to access medical services. He said it is important that Barbados does its part to assist other countries in the region is addressing various medical conditions.

“No one should be leaving the Eastern Caribbean to go to Miami or Toronto or wherever to have ophthalmology services that can be readily available here in Barbados and I urge you ladies and gentlemen to join with us in making that happen. Greater partnerships with entities like Lenstec and other private companies as well as with leading healthcare facilities elsewhere, will be necessary to help us grow out our healthcare industry. We must be bold in pursuing such partnerships. It calls for more open-mindedness amongst those tasked with effecting positive change and a determination to stay the course,” he added.

His comments came as he also argued there is no reason why efforts cannot also be made here to partner with leading universities and hospitals of ophthalmology around the world, with the aim of advancing the country’s position relative to ophthalmological care within the region. (JRT)