Minister for Health and Social Development says Partnership with HIMA will provide the people of the Virgin Islands with a range of specialist services.

Hon. Skelton stated that through this partnership, HIMA would be able to provide the people of the VI with a range of specialist services.

He noted that on April 18-19, 2012, himself along with Territorial at Large Member Hon. Archibald Christian and health officials from the Ministry of Health and Social Development traveled to Puerto Rico to meet with officials of HIMA Health, where they discussed the prospect of HIMA Health Services establishing satellite operations in the Virgin Islands.

“It is proposed that the collaboration will focus on creating hospital affiliation between HIMA and the Peebles Hospital; enhancing specialist services and emergency services provided at the Peebles Hospital; improving local technological capacity within the health sector; transitioning to a modern health information system to assist with proactive health surveillance; promote expanded services throughout the region and to establish facilities for long-term medical tourism.”

In the report, Minister Skelton stated that as a result of their visit to Puerto Rico, it allowed them to identify opportunities to immediately enhance the VI’s healthcare delivery system through an arrangement that drives efficiency, leads to long-term capacity development and maps out a set of mutually beneficial strategies that would respond to the immediate priorities and long-term goals for the BVIHSA and the people of the Territory.

“I am extremely optimistic about the possibilities for capacity building through a partnership with HIMA, to produce specialist health care services that are safe, effective, patient-centered and of high quality,” said Hon. Skelton.

He assured his colleagues and the people of the VI that any partnership arrangement that is agreed on, will ensure the strengthening of the local capacity and equip health services and human resources to meet the basic needs of the population into the near future.