$33 million loan to fund QEH waste management, morgue upgrades

The waste management system and morgue at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) will be renovated under a recently signed agreement between the Ministry of Health and the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS).

The agreement, which aims to improve the island’s sole public hospital, will also support the QEH’s digitalisation process.

The project, titled ‘Implementation Support for the Strengthening and Improvement of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital’, has a budget of over US$16.5 million (BDS$33 million), funded by a loan from the European Investment Bank (EIB). It is scheduled to run for 30 months and is expected to be completed by November 2026.

Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health and Wellness, Wayne Marshall, who signed the agreement on behalf of the ministry, said: “This collaboration is set to strengthen essential infrastructure and resources at the QEH, enhancing its capacity to provide high-quality healthcare services. The agreement will allow the QEH to implement a robust waste management system and undertake necessary refurbishments to the morgue’s ventilation infrastructure.”

Marshall said that in addition to these infrastructure upgrades, the agreement enables the procurement of urgently needed medical and Information, Communication Technology (ICT) equipment. 

“This equipment will enhance QEH’s clinical capabilities, improving patient outcomes and supporting healthcare professionals in delivering advanced care,” he said. “The acquisition of modern ICT tools will contribute to strengthening and supporting the digitisation process.”

The permanent secretary said the partnership with UNOPS and the targeted projects “signify a proactive approach to health sector reform in Barbados, prioritising the public’s wellbeing and aligning with international best practices”.

United Nations Resident Coordinator for Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean, Simon Springett, welcomed the partnership between the QEH, the EIB and the UNOPS.

“Improving access to quality health care infrastructure is important to achieving both social and economic resilience in Barbados. This partnership between the government of Barbados, UNOPS and EIB represents another tangible demonstration of our deep commitment to build meaningful partnership to achieve the sustainable development goals by 2030,” Springett said. 

(BGIS/BT)