K.H.M.H. Patient Still Awaiting Surgery

K.H.M.H. patient, Maribel del Carmen Torres remains in the General Surgical Ward, hoping that the day will soon arrive when she will undergo surgery to repair a broken left leg. Torres had called on News Five last week after she became concerned that the person with whom she had worked in Xaibe did not offer any kind of assistance, following an injury on the job. Additionally, Torres, a Nicaraguan, has no relative in Belize who has offered to assist her. So the hospital, as it has done in the past, has been seeking funding to locate and purchase the necessary pins Torres will need in order to hold the badly broken bone in place. As the K.H.M.H. had explained last week, they do not have all the pins that the patient needs for the type of injury she sustained. Today, Torres told us that the doctors have informed her that her leg can wait a few more days before the surgery needs to be performed.

She said that she’s doing better now and is hopeful that the hospital is able to locate the pins in time to save her leg. She was also thankful that a friend in Corozal Town has offered her a shelter while she recovers. Meanwhile, on Tuesday, the government informed via a press release that it has approved the waiver of all fees charged by public hospitals and clinics, with the exception of the K.H.M.H. This is to ensure that patients have access to quality healthcare. But for patients like Torres, who has no one to fund or finance her daily and medical needs, the government’s waiver does little for them, at least at this time. On Wednesday, Cabinet Minister, Kareem Musa told reporters that Cabinet is also considering to extend that waiver to patients of the K.H.M.H. as well.  

Kareem Musa

Kareem Musa, Cabinet Minister

“That is, of course, definitely on the agenda. Cabinet did actually consider yesterday (Tuesday). As you are aware, KHMH, however, is a statutory authority so there has to be greater consultation and consideration where it comes to KHMH, but in respect to all other services – clinics that is – we will be seeing the removal of fees. And KHMH does service the entire country, not just Belize City residents, so again, that is something moving forward that I’m certain the Ministry of Health will be looking at.”