Most of us might not know what a cardiac catheterization laboratory is, but a "Cath Lab" as it is called is a critical unit in treating persons with heart conditions, particularly heart attacks.
Belize doesn't have one, but now a group called the Sanger Heart and Vascular institute is offering the KHMH one, free! But The KHMH isn't sure it wants it.
It sounds odd, right? An impoverished hospital thinking twice about accepting a top flight piece of equipment for free?
CEO Dr. Gary Longsworth today explained that the hospital has to differentiate between what it wants and what it needs.....
Dr. Gary Longsworth, CEO - KHMH
"Whenever you expand service you have to consider all the aspects involved in the expansion of a service or introduction of a new service. You have to have human resources, you have to have finances, you have to have a place to do it, have the resources to maintain it, sustain it over the longer term. The Sanger institute has their criteria as well, they have said to us we must ensure that we will be able to make optimal use of this gift because they don't want to bring a expensive piece of equipment to the country of Belize and have it languish and deteriorate. So it requires a lot of thought and what we have done, the board has asked for a feasibility study from the administration to see if it is a possibility as this time. We definitely want to go there but somebody gave me the analogy, it's like somebody offering you a helicopter for your news service, where's the pilot, where's the fuel, where's the hanger to put it in, you know? All of these things have to be considered."
But the problem is time. 7news has seen a letter dated June 15th. from the Sanger Heart And Vascular Institute and it says that they can deliver a "mobile heart-diagnostic" laboratory within a month.
It warns the KHMH CEO that, quote "You have to decide soon upon the issue because I have several requests...."
The letter from Francis Robicsek adds: "If this lab does not go to Belize it may take a considerable time for me to obtain another one." Longsworth today assured us that he has spoken with Sanger and they have since agreed to give the hospital time to complete a feasibility study....
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