Nauru's Ministry of Health has sent a second group of heart surgery patients to India this week.
The patients will be treated by Dr K.M. Cherian at the Frontier Lifeline Hospital in Chennai and each will be escorted by one family member travelling at their own expense.
The Health Minister Mathew Batsiua says the second group referral follows the recent successful initial visit when he sent a team to investigate the standards of hospitals in that region of India.
He says other hospitals in the Chennai region are likely to be used for future operations as the standard of care at hospitals there is world class.
The minister says the limit on the number of people for whom the government can pay for overseas medical treatment will be lifted as the cost of surgery in India, even with the additional travelling expenses, is so much cheaper than the traditional destination of Australia.
Other hospitals in the region are
also likely to be used as referral
centers for future patients from
Nauru," Minister Batsiua said.
The size and economies of scale
has limited Nauru in the range
of medical service which can be
provided on island and for
many years there have been
referrals to private hospitals in
Australia. However budget constraints
have meant that there
have had to be limits on the
numbers of patients who could
be referred to Australia for
treatment.
The referrals to India can be
done at a much lesser cost, even
when the additional traveling
costs are included.
The end result is that the Government
of Nauru will be able
to ensure that many more patients
receive the treatment they
need at hospitals which have
been investigated and proven to
have world class standards.
T he Ministry of Health sent three Nauruan patients yesterday (22 Sep) to India for
heart surgery.
The three patients are the second group to be sent to India for medical referrals.
All three patients will be escorted by one family member who is travelling at their own
expense.
Overseas Referral Officer Raveska Garoa and Strategic Health Planner Norman Powell
are travelling as official escorts with the group.
The patients will be treated by Dr K.M. Cherian at the Frontier Lifeline Hospital in Chennai.
Health Minister Mathew Batsiua says this second group referral follows the recent successful initial visit when he sent a team to investigate the standards of
hospitals in that region of India.
The subsequent report was extremely
positive and the Frontier
Lifeline Hospital was identified
as an outstanding facility giving
world class treatment and care.
Other hospitals in the region are
also likely to be used as referral
centers for future patients from
Nauru," Minister Batsiua said.
The size and economies of scale
has limited Nauru in the range
of medical service which can be
provided on island and for
many years there have been
referrals to private hospitals in
Australia. However budget constraints
have meant that there
have had to be limits on the
numbers of patients who could
be referred to Australia for
treatment.
The referrals to India can be
done at a much lesser cost, even
when the additional traveling
costs are included.
The end result is that the Government
of Nauru will be able
to ensure that many more patients
receive the treatment they
need at hospitals which have
been investigated and proven to
have world class standards.
This is a major achievement for
the people of Nauru, especially
those who will need to have an
overseas medical referral.
This group of patients leaves
with our very best wishes for a
successful journey and a speedy
recovery to full health.
The group is expected to return
to Nauru on 18th Octo
