(Trinidad Guardian) Approximately 5,000 people have been waiting for cataract surgeries for the past three years. That list, however, has been growing said Health Minister Dr Fuad Khan yesterday. “If you have to get a clinic appointment you would get one that is in 2015 or 2016,” Khan added. He was speaking to members of the media after the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding for ophthalmology training at the San Fernando General Hospital and the University of Utah at the ministry’s office at Park Street, Port-of-Spain. The MOU would establish a institutional partnership for the ongoing training and transfer of knowledge on corneal transplantation, small incision cataract surgery and macular retina and paediatric ophthalmology. The Health Minister said he was trying to implement a system to ease the backlog of surgeries.
He added: “I’ve put a system in place that anybody who has this surgery earmarked for after June 2012…you just come to the ministry on the website and there is a form you fill out. “We will then send you to different suppliers who are giving us a reasonable rate for cataract surgery.” The cost ranged between $5,000 and $6,500 depending on the type of surgery. On the issue of resources the Health Minister said there was a problem with the procurement of lenses to perform cataract surgeries. Describing the matter as a “supply chain problem,” Khan added: “Nipdec procures on behalf of the ministry and maybe they did not procure it properly. “They ended up with a deficiency in the supply chain which is the amount that was supposed to be sent. “But this is happening all the time and too consistent; that is why I decided to pass in Parliament the amendment to the act that allows the Regional Health Authorities to procure on their own behalf, instead of going to Nipdec with everything.”
He said he also planned to put a “dedicated” inventory person and system where that problem of the supply chain would be over. Praising the San Fernando General Hospital for being in the forefront of training, Khan said even in 2008 the facility was always involved in training. “We are just developing what is there already and hopefully all the other centres would be brought in,” he added. The Health Minister said the plans were on the drawing board to supply young children with free eye glasses.
