Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Omar Edwards (right) and Dr. Elizabeth Madeville-Babb (left) taking Health Minister, John Boyce (second left); PAHO Director, Dr. Carissa Etienne (second right) and health officials on a tour of the David Thompson Health and Social Services Complex recently. (C.Pitt/Henry)
The Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) has continued to provide technical support to Barbados, by offering “guidance” to the Ministry of Health on medical care financing.
Minister of Health, John Boyce, made this disclosure during a press conference at the David Thompson Health and Social Services Complex recently, to mark the end of Director of PAHO, Dr. Carissa Etienne’s official visit to Barbados.
Following her tour of the multi-purpose facility, Mr. Boyce said that one of the “critical” areas of focus is the Ministry’s drive to review the island’s health care financing mechanisms; and he stressed that “PAHO has been instrumental in giving guidance on various strategies and how these may be implemented”.
Mr. Boyce also expressed his Ministry’s commitment to continued engagement on issues such as health care financing with the organisation, in order to strengthen the island’s health systems and processes.
“PAHO plays a vital role in the delivery of health care to the people of Barbados and the Region of the Americas by providing technical assistance across the range of health issues that we manage from day to day.
“This support ensures that countries such as Barbados have the capacity to deliver the very best health care to its citizens…[and] enables us to continue to provide the best health care possible”, he stated.
The Health Minister further underscored the importance of PAHO’s relationship to the Government of Barbados, and told those gathered that it was a “mutually beneficial” partnership.
He explained: “Over the years, every effort has been made to support the growth of PAHO through our participation in its governing bodies, as well as maintaining our quota contributions.” And, according to him, this participation has resulted in discussions that have gone “extremely well” on a number of issues in the health sector.
The tour of the David Thompson Health and Social Services Complex culminated with a lecture by PAHO’s Director, Dr. Carissa Etienne, to staff members of the St. John facility.
Earlier this week, Dr. Etienne also toured the Psychiatric Hospital, in commemoration of World Mental Health Day, which was observed globally on October 10.
malissa.brathwaite@barbados.gov.bb