Only Room for Excellence

The Caribbean screams good health with its breathtaking beauty, cooling breezes and natually preserved hideaways in countries like Guyana and Dominica. One would imagine that the Caribbean is the perfect environment in which to rest, relax and also recuperate. While millions visit the region in order to relax, the big question is whether they are ready to trust us with their health.

It is no idle boast that Barbados has an excellent cadre of nurses and doctors, with some abroad that might very well be willing to return as part of a new venture. This is an excellent reason to believe that such trust can be built. Some may very well say that we already have a positive answer to the question of trust as there are already success stories in the region. The Cross Roads rehabilitation centre in Antigua and Barbuda is one such example and the Fertility Clinic in Barbados, is another. In fact it was Dr. Skinner that expressed the view that especially in this area that there was only room for excellence. Barbados must therefore get it right when interfacing with clients.

Health and wellness runs the gamut of health care interventions from sophisticated cutting edge medical procedures to cosmetic and alternative medical treatments.This means that the development of an industry in this area would create many opportunities for the provision of services both directly and indirectly.

The Caribbean does not have that many options and it would make sense to capitalise on a long established tourism industry. A health and wellness industry holds much for the region including additional foreign exchange with an expected mandate of raising the general standard of health care for the country as a whole.

Initiatives in this area however require a great deal of capital and a great deal of determination to make them work. In Barbados there are many examples of failed or frustrated attempts. There are always only a few of us that are risk takers. If we are not a part of that group, for the sake of our countries we must ensure that we do not put obstacles in the way of those that are prepared to take the necessary risks.

Follow-up was promised in order to ensure that the workshop is not the end of the process, but the beginning. It is expected that an investment mission will soon be coming to the region from Canada seeking partnerships and opportunities. We look forward to this.