Medical professionals at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) will have further opportunities to develop their skills in vascular and orthopedic surgery and other specialized areas through collaboration with the Chongqing Medical University, one of the leading medical training facilities in China.
The two organizations signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) this afternoon at the QEH, continuing a relationship that began in late 2016 when the first team of surgeons, nurses and physicians from Chongqing began a six-month stint here.
“The initial MOU was aimed at securing expertise and medical support for a number of areas at the QEH that were undermanned, and the first team had three surgeons, three nurses and two physicians. They only stayed for six months, but the second team, which comprised two vascular and orthopedic surgeons, three physicians, who specialized in nuclear medicine, anesthesia and amputation and three nurses assigned to critical care and nephrology, stayed for a full year, and their tour of duty ended last month, Director of Health Planning in the Ministry of Health Danny Gill said.
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Danny Gill[/caption]
“However, one physician and two surgeons were granted extensions until July 31 to assist their colleagues who are due to come in from July 24, and they will provide medical care to Barbadians awaiting orthopedic and vascular surgery,” je added.
He said China had also made two generous donations of medical equipment and consumables, including two anesthetic machines with a combined value of US$400,000.
Barbadian medical professionals have also been benefitting from exposure to their counterparts in China, with having gone to Chonqing for specialized training in laparoscopic surgery, breast surgery and other areas, QEH’s Director of Medical Services Anthony Harris told today’s signing ceremony.
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Anthony Harris[/caption]
Harris said he was pleased with the work the Chinese specialists had done in Barbados over the past two years.
“They integrated themselves very well into our way of life in the hospital and Barbados, and in the last couple of weeks we have had reports from the heads of departments to which they were attached and everyone has been happy with their performance.”
Meanwhile, Economic and Commercial Counsellor with the Chinese Embassy here Qu Ying, said: “We are glad to facilitate another first in the cooperation between Barbados and China, as this is the first time China has despatched a medical team to Barbados distributing free medical care, and I believe this operation will take the relationship between our two countries to another level.”
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From left, acting CEO of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Louise Bobb, Economic and Commercial Counsellor with the Chinese Embassy in Barbados Qu Ying and Vice President of the First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University Dr Luo Tianyou after signing the MOU.[/caption]
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