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by pltm
(PLTM) - Medical tourism is being noted as a key feature in the ‘Recovery to Development Plan of the Virgin Islands’ (RDPVI), as it relates to the improvement of the Territory’s healthcare sector, and a contributor to the BVI economy.
On the healthcare side, the RDPVI considers the current deficiencies and shortcomings in relation to medical emergency response as well as a general overview of the current health issues and needs; and as a result, a number of suggestions have been made to address the issues.
Most important is the move to make the BVI a regarded medical tourism destination. It was noted that this would be done through the creation of a system that is conducive to medical tourism. This, it was noted, would require changes that are legislative/legal, infrastructural, and service related.
These changes will include the completion of the international accreditation of Peebles Hospital, which the report said would ensure the delivery of care of optimal health outcomes, and improve confidence in the healthcare system, as well as user and other stakeholder satisfaction.
In order to facilitate specialized service needs, it was mentioned that the fifth floor at Peebles Hospital will be retrofitted to expand the scope of specialist healthcare services available in the Territory.
Part of the solution is the recommended incorporation of technology aimed at improving the delivery of services through the strengthening of the health systems, and the use of e-health technologies. This will include the procurement of a health information platform, e-health and telemedicine equipment and services, and development of databases to support both provision of healthcare as well as the public health programmes.
Another part of the plan includes the procurement of additional ambulances to allow quicker response times and improve the efficiency of emergency medical services throughout the Territory.
Separate from the ambulances would be the procurement and equipping of specialized vehicles that will be used to provide more dynamic and innovative mobile health services within the community.
On a general note, the development mentioned plans to have Memoranda of Understandings (MOUs) with private providers to allow for the greater efficiency and synergies in the delivery of healthcare services.
Additionally, “The development of polyclinics in the eastern and western zones of the Territory as part of the rationalization of the district healthcare system to provide for greater efficiency and expanded delivery of patient and ‘community-centred’ primary healthcare services” was also mentioned.
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