NCRHA Expands Healthcare Services and Infrastructure
The North Central Regional Health Authority (NCRHA) says it is making steady progress in improving healthcare delivery, as it outlined a series of service, infrastructure and operational upgrades during its latest public board meeting.
Speaking at Thursday’s meeting, NCRHA Chairman Dr Tim Gopeesingh provided an update on efforts to strengthen frontline healthcare services.
He said the NCRHA has focused on infrastructure and facility upgrades, along with enhanced clinical, diagnostic and surgical support aimed at easing pressure points and improving the overall patient experience.
“These have focused on enforcing financial discipline, identifying and addressing irregular payments, restoring merit-based management, strengthening procurement oversight, and improving the delivery of clinical services. As a result, significant sums have been recovered and saved, near $200 million in a short period of 11 months.”
Beyond hospital-based care, the NCRHA also highlighted the importance of community healthcare and expanded primary care outreach.
Dr Gopeesingh said bringing healthcare closer to communities will help reduce pressure on Accident and Emergency (A&E) departments while improving prevention and the long-term management of chronic diseases.
“This means that care is available anytime, 24 hours a day, access on weekends and public holidays, faster, more efficient care, reduce the pressures on A&E departments, improve management of chronic disease and strengthen community based care delivery.”
The Authority also outlined continued investments in hospital infrastructure and medical equipment, alongside operational changes designed to increase patient capacity.
Expanding surgical services remains a key priority, with measures introduced to reduce waiting times and clear long-standing backlogs.
“We are now continuing surgery beyond the 2:30 or 3 o’clock time up to 6 in the evening. We are paying the nurses for the extra time that they work, and we started surgery on weekends to wipe out the backlog of surgical cases, thousands of them.”
The NCRHA said continued support from the Ministry of Health, its Board, staff and stakeholders will be critical to sustaining these improvements.
