QEH ushers in new era with major technology upgrade

The Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) has received the first shipment of hundreds of new medical and IT devices, marking what Chief Executive Officer Neil Clark called “the biggest change the public will see to the healthcare system since it was built”.

The upgrade, part of a €60 million (BDS$138 million) loan agreement between the Government of Barbados and the European Investment Bank (EIB), is being implemented through the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS). It will modernise hospital operations and launch a fully integrated health information system, allowing doctors to instantly access digital medical records.

“This first batch includes hundreds of pieces of new ICT and medical equipment – computers, tablets, and diagnostic monitors,” Clark said. “It’s not glamorous equipment, but it’s technology that keeps a modern hospital running.”

He said the digitisation of patient data will streamline services, improve decision-making and connect every department – from Accident & Emergency to outpatient clinics.

“Step by step, we are building a modern, connected and compassionate health system that Barbados can be proud of,” he added.

UNOPS Deputy Director for Latin America and the Caribbean, Giuseppe Mancinelli, praised the partnership, saying it represented tangible progress towards strengthening healthcare delivery and supporting the Sustainable Development Goals.

“We’re not witnessing just a delivery,” he said, “but the impact of improved management, infrastructure and efficiency that will directly enhance patient care.”

Mancinelli revealed that a second batch of equipment, including advanced surgical tools, medical furniture, new servers, and displays, is already in the pipeline for procurement in the coming months.

Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health and Wellness, Wayne Marshall, confirmed that the new equipment, valued at about US$736 000, is just one component of the wider transformation supported by the EIB loan.

Clark also highlighted ongoing projects under the hospital’s 2025-2028 strategy, emphasising “people, partnerships and innovation”. These include the commissioning of a new linear accelerator to expand cancer treatment options, procurement of an MRI scanner to cut waiting times, and upgrades to the rehabilitation centre.

Looking ahead, he said the upcoming $400 million Enmore Development, which will feature a comprehensive cancer centre, modern laboratories and expanded patient facilities, represents “a once-in-a-generation investment that will define the future of healthcare on this island”.

“This is partnership in action,” Clark said. “With every milestone, we move closer to delivering healthcare that is faster, safer and truly world-class.”

(LE)