Eulalee Thompson

40 intensive care ambulances + 4 CT scans + MRI + new operating theatres + freshly-painted hospitals = CWC (and maybe better health care for Jamaicans)

Well, I suppose this is a misleading headline. But, I must confess that this is deliberate. Like most West Indians, I get 'a rush' from the nail-biting finishes, especially in the one-day cricket matches, but I hardly know enough about the game to write an entire article on the topic. So, this is not really an article about the game of cricket and maybe not even about the ICC Cricket World Cup (CWC) 2007 .

You see, cricket has become a health issue (or perhaps, it is health that has become a cricket issue). Sunset Legislation and loans to build a new stadium and refurbish an 'old' one aside, I would encourage non-cricket-loving citizens to now pay more than a little respect to this game called cricket.

Because of the CWC, the Kingston Public Hospital (KPH), the major referral hospital here, will finally receive a CT scan and MRI - imaging and diagnostic technologies which have already gone through various technological generations and which are part of standard diagnostic work-ups in most health care systems around the world.

Of course, before the advent of CWC, only patients who could afford fees at private centres would be able to access this level of diagnostic attention.

Upgrading emergency services

Brian Lara - File

In May, The Gleaner reported an elaborate plan, unveiled by the Ministry of Health, in preparation for CWC. Dr. Marion Bullock-Ducasse, director of emergency medical services, spoke of new ambulances and equipment, and the upgrading of emergency services of six hospitals in Kingston and St. Andrew, St. Catherine, Trelawny, St. Ann and St. James. The Falmouth Hospital, apparently the only hospital within a seven-mile radius of the stadium being build for warm-up matches in Trelawny, should see the construction of an operating theatre and emergency department.

Now, Horace Dalley, Minister of Health, at his recent tour of the KPH/Victoria Jubilee Hospital complex, indicated that his ministry has ordered equipment valued at US$8.9 million (J$579 million). The equipment include four CT Scans, one to be assigned to the KPH and the others to be placed in hospitals around the island.

The KPH for years functioned with only one Cobalt machine but it will receive an additional unit before the CWC starts in March. This means that the facility should soon be able to dispense radiation treatment for more than the measly 60 cancer patients it now treats each day. There's more - the roof and flooring of out-of-use 56-bed Edwina Ward will be repaired for $5.4 million from the National Health Fund, in two to four months.

Also, the KPH's 16-machine Renal Dialysis Unit is expected to see a doubling of its capacity so that more than 30 renal patients can be seen each day. Again, from the National Health Fund, will come US $1.6 million (J$104 million) to purchase 40 new ambulances, equipped as intensive care vehicles for a crippled system screaming out for years for a crutch.

You can do the maths; but you really don't have to because Dr. Trevor McCartney, KPH's senior medical officer, was quoted as saying: "The need for a CT Scan and MRI cannot be overemphasised and with the imperative visit of a large number of persons ... (and) with the tremendous traffic on our roads, we anticipate the need to have CT Scans and MRI for those unfortunate persons who may suffer injuries in motor vehicle accidents."

Never mind the 'unfortunate' Jamaicans who have always been suffering injuries. And, never mind that the money was sitting there in the National Health Fund, waiting on 'deserving' patients.

Of course, we know that the Government and Ministry of Health must meet the regulations governing the CWC but, especially since we now know that the funds could clearly be sourced, it would have felt so much better if we could say that they were improving health care, ailing and understaffed for so many years, because the taxpaying citizens of this country deserve it.

Send feedback to eulalee.thompson@gleanerjm.com.