Minister for Health, Wellness and New Health Investment the Hon Dr. Irving McIntyre has described the commissioning of the High intensity focused ultrasound, HIFU service as another historical moment in the continued development of hospital services in Dominica.
The Ministry of Health commissioned MRI services in October 2021. That service is expected to serve not only Dominica but CARICOM and beyond.
“As you aware the Government has made tremendous investments in upgrading the health care infrastructure over the past five years. Much of these investments have seen the construction of new health and wellness facilities to strengthen our resolve to improve the delivery of primary care and in particular the practical implications of the principles of health investments,” Dr. McIntyre stated.
The Minister says Government has also embarked on a major capital development program of close to forty million US dollars at the Dominica China Friendship Hospital.
The Health Minister says the Dominica China Friendship Hospital is well on its way towards modernizing the delivery of health care services in the country.
Dominica can now boast of having the most modern full service radiological department in the public services within the region. The DCFH now has two x-ray machines, including CT scan, mammogram, Ultra Sound, MRI and now the High Intensity Focused Ultra sound, the HIFU machine.
“This HIFU service is a cutting edge and non-invasive technology. It has the capabilities to treat many cancers such as liver, pancreatic, breast, uterus fibroids, soft tissue and also bone cancer. We understand that the capacity of the machine will exceed that of the needs of our population but citizens must feel a measure of comfort that they can receive treatments right here at home which otherwise would be obtained in the US and elsewhere,” Dr. McIntyre explained.
The Minister says Dominica is ready to provide health services that are not available in other OECS and CARICOM countries.
“There are no other HIFU facilities in the OECS or even in the rest of the CARICOM countries. I am told that the closest such facility is in Mexico. We can therefore leverage that capacity to provide services to the OECS and CARICOM countries and beyond,” the Health Minister added.