Health gets a $36M allocation
Pogson Hospital to be a center of excellence...says Finance Minister

By Terresa McCall
Reporter-SKNVibes.com

Minister of Finance Dr. the Hon. Timothy Harris

According to Minister of Finance and presenter of the St. Christopher and Nevis 2009 Budget Address, Dr. the Hon. Timothy Harris, an exact $35,797,704 was apportioned to that ministry to use in its continued quest to promote a healthy nation.

“The Ministry of Health will continue in 2009 to pursue programmes aimed at addressing Chronic Non-communicable Diseases such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes, hypertension and cancer that are the main causes of mortality and morbidity.”

Harris said throughout the upcoming year, the Ministry of Health would continue working on the implementation of measures specifically geared towards the significant reduction of chronic disease related to mortality and morbidity.

“This will include implementing programmes to encourage our citizens to follow healthy dietary practices and physical exercise.”

Dr. Harris informed that construction of the Pogson Hospital, located in Sandy Point, has been completed and would serve the people of that community and neighbouring villages in the provision of primary health care and hospital services. He further indicated that for the upcoming year “we will proceed with the implementation of Phase III of the JNF Development Programme which among other things will improve the administrative facilities at the hospital”. ~~Adz:Right~~

“In addition, this (Pogson) Hospital will become a centre of excellence in the prevention and management of HIV/AIDS. Indeed it will play a critical role in the implementation of the National Strategic Plan for the Prevention and Management HIV/AIDS. Of course, we will continue to upgrade the JNF Hospital which already boasts some of the most modern and up-to-date facilities in the OECS,” he said.

The creation of a Health Information System is another project Dr. Harris outlined as a future government-initiative.

“The first phase of the project addresses the issues of Patient Registration and Patient Billing at the hospital, and will facilitate the management of patient information at all of the hospital facilities which include the JNF, Pogson and Mary Charles in St. Kitts, and the Alexander Hospital in Nevis. The application will be available to medical practitioners, laboratory technicians, administrative and billing staff at the various hospitals and will provide modern facilities for accessing patient records, and allow for improved management of the provision of vital medical care to all of our citizens.”