http://www.trinidadexpress.com/index.pl/article_news?id=113363936Government is one step closer to establishing a new modern hospital and academic medical centre in Port of Spain.
Health Minister John Rahael said yesterday that Cabinet had approved the collaboration between John Hopkins International Hospital and the Government of this country through the University of Trinidad and Tobago in developing programmes of health care and service delivery.
The new modern hospital is one of the proposals made by the John Hopkins International Hospital in its report.
Prime Minister Patrick Manning in winding up the budget debate this year made mention of this new hospital.
Manning had said that consideration was being given to establishing a new teaching hospital on the grounds south of Memorial Park to replace the Port of Spain General Hospital.
Rahael said in order to move this plan forward a joint advisory council will be established to "oversee, manage and plan the implementation of such programmes and initiatives".
According to Rahael, this council will arrange the commissioning of the feasibility study for the proposed academic medical centre, including hospital facilities based upon the North American model.
He said the Government has already identified some lands for the establishment of this project.
Rahael added that discussions between John Hopkins University and UTT have identified areas for development of programmes of excellence.
These include development of a comprehensive clinical programme, management programmes for existing facilities including Port of Spain and San Fernando General Hospitals, medical personnel training and continued professional education and research based activities.