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$2.5m for cardiac programme
The Ministry of Health is spending $2.5 million on a subsidised cardiac surgery programme for indigent persons. Health Minister Colm Imbert yesterday visited patients who had angiograms at the St. Clair Medical Centre, one of the two centres for the cardiac procedures. The other is the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex in Mt. Hope. Imbert gave reporters a breakdown of the programme. The 63 angiograms would b done in the first cycle, 30 angioplasties and ten open heart procedures per month. The Health Minister said angiograms would be first offer, then angioplasties and finally full open heart surgery. “We are paying the entire cost of the angiogram,” he said. “We are subsidising the angioplasty to the tune of $30,000 and the open heart between $4,000 and $50,000 per procedure.” Dr. Ronald Henry, Chief of Staff and Clinical Director of the Catheterisation Laboratory, said angiograms usually cost upwards of $9,000, angioplasties $50,000, and open heart surgeries over $100,000. He said the first batch of patients was he moist challenging since they have been on the waiting list for some time. So far eight patients have benefited from the programme – four had surgery on Friday and four yesterday.
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