Intravenous Kits Valued at $2 Million Donated to Health Sector

Several cases of Intravenous (IV) Giving Sets, valued at just over $2 million, have been donated to the public health sector as part of efforts to improve the quality of health care delivery at various hospitals in the island.

The items, contributed by Med-Rx Caribbean, comprise 50 cases (15,000 units) valued at $900,000 for  the University Hospital of the West Indies (UHWI), and 100 cases (30,000 units) valued at $1.8 million, which will go to other facilities.

The IV Giving Sets, used to administer fluid through the vein, is one of the most basic, yet critical instruments used in hospitals, which overtime, can become an expense because of the amount used daily.

Speaking at the handing over ceremony on Wednesday, October 9 at the UHWI, Director, Emergency Disaster Management and Special Services in the Ministry, Dr. Marion Bullock DuCasse,  said that the assistance will go a far way in ensuring that patients receive the kind of care they deserve.

Dr. Ducasse, who was delivering remarks on behalf of portfolio Minister, Hon. Dr. Fenton Ferguson, used the opportunity to appeal to other persons and groups to support the health sector in any way they can, while thanking those who are already partners.

She noted that donations such as these are vital, especially since the Government has been operating in a tight fiscal space and is required to cut costs in any way possible.

She added that the Ministry has revised its policy and procedure guidelines on the ways gifts are accepted as part of efforts to facilitate the participation of the Diaspora and other groups, who wish to contribute.

Managing Director, Mar-Roc Limited, Dr. Charles Rockhead, said it is hoped that the donation will help to keep down the cost of patient care.

“We hope that it will ease the burden of the doctors, nurses and administrators who are on the front-line every day, seeing the needs firsthand and having to find more and more creative ways to function efficiently. We hope that it will stimulate even more businesses, small and large, to make donations such as this,” he added.

He noted that even though the donation may be small when compared to the overall budget of the hospitals, “we hope that you can now re-allocate resources to another critical area of immediate need.”

“Being in the medical field, I am aware of the importance of these items in improving the quality of health care delivery and so, that is the role that our company fills – ensuring that the smaller, critical items are covered so that the major outcomes can be a reality,” he added.

Acting Chief Executive Officer, UHWI, Kevin Allen, expressed gratitude for the donation.  “I am sure this timely donation will be used to the greater good of providing quality healthcare to the citizens of Jamaica,” he said.

Med-Rx Caribbean, which opened in 2010, is a licensed medical distributing company committed to supplying medical disposables of the highest quality. Med-Rx is the distributing arm of Mar-Roc Limited.