K.H.M.H. teams up with private sector
One of the drawbacks of a private free market health care system, as practised in the U.S.A. for example, is that intense competition results in even the smallest hospitals purchasing the most sophisticated equipment–even though it can remain unused for ninety-five percent of the day. Seeking to avoid that kind of duplication, the public and private health sectors in Belize this week joined forces in an effort that should work to the benefit of all. Ann-Marie Williams reports.
Ann-Marie Williams, Reporting
The Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital has joined forces with the Belize Diagnostic Centre to make state-of-the-art health care readily accessible to Belizeans at a more affordable rate.
Dr. Harry Hoy, Chief Radiologist at Belize Diagnostic, says the public/private partnership provides CAT Scan services, ultrasound imaging and mammograms. The CAT Scan is like an x-ray.
Dr. Harry Hoy, Chief Radiologist, Belize Diagnostic Centre
“What is allows us to do is to look within the bony structures, within the abdomen, that regular x-ray can’t do. We can detect tumours, infections, abscesses of the brain, we can detect the same things in the chest, abdomen. This is a new way to see all the diseases that previously could not be seen by regular simply x-rays.”
There are two types of mammogram, the diagnostic and screening. Since the facility is only two days old, the machine is yet to be installed.
Dr. Harry Hoy
“The screening for mammogram for people, we’re trying to detect cancers very early in the stage; it’s what the mammogram does. Before you even feel a lump for breast cancer, or if you even have any pain, if you do the regular yearly mammograms, we can pick up breast cancers so small that with treatment you can completely be safe from the cancer. Previous to having the mammograms in Belize, people would detect a lump or feel the pain and usually by that time it’s too late and you can’t cure it.”
This is the ultrasound room where the machine that detects all types of illnesses in the body can be found.
Dr. Harry Hoy
“Including brain in babies, the heart, blood vessels, abdomen, and these all use in conjunction can help us to detect the real disease that people have. So when we combine these different machines–they’re not always used all the time, it’s either one, the other, in a combination of these equipment–we can get to the real cause of disease which allows for treatment, and hopefully curing of people.”
CEO at the K.H.M.H., Dr. Alvaro Rosado, says this type of collaboration has special meaning for health care.
Dr. Alvaro Rosado, CEO, Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital
“What it means is that if somebody gets into an accident, we don’t have to call for a ambulance, send that person through the bumpy streets or through the speed bumps and what not to the imaging centre, roll them out on a stretcher, he gets on the table, gets the CAT Scan and comes back again off the stretcher. What it means is straight from emergency, down a corridor, into the CAT Scan, gets his study done. That’s the first big advantage that we have. The second big advantage is the convenience, people no longer have to leave the hospital and go there, they get it done here.”
Dr. Harry Hoy
“We are charging twenty percent less than the regular prices charged in the private sector, so it will always be easier and cheaper for Belizeans to access these high end, high tech services.”
And if you’re registered with the N.H.I., you can access these high tech services without breaking your wallet.
Dr. Harry Hoy
“It doesn’t exclude the N.H.I. project. We are providers for N.H.I., we continue to be providers for N.H.I., so patients that are N.H.I. eligible, can go either to our private facility or this semi-private facility here and will be treated the same. They will not pay.”
Ann-Marie Williams
“They get a free CAT Scan, all the services here that are available are covered by the N.H.I.?”
Dr. Harry Hoy
“Everything is covered.”
Unfortunately, not all people are yet covered. Only the thirty thousand residents of southside Belize who have registered with the N.H.I. Ann-Marie Williams for News 5.
The CAT Scan, mammogram and ultrasound equipment is valued at just under two million dollars. Patients utilising the new service should note that payments will be made directly to Belize Diagnostic Centre and not the K.H.M.H.
