ROC (Taiwan) Donates to JNF Hospital
(ZIZ News) — The Republic of China (ROC) on Taiwan has once again contributed to the Federation in a major way; this time with the donation of technological equipment to the Joseph N. France General Hospital.
At a presentation ceremony held in the outpatient lobby of the Joseph N. France General Hospital, 38 Acer computers with matching desktops, 4 Microsoft surface pros and a multifunction HP Laser coloured printer were handed over to the Government of St. Kitts and Nevis.
Junior Minister in the Ministry of Health, Hon. Wendy Phipps, in brief remarks, relayed hope that the equipment will be cared for and put to good use.
“The equipment will be used the best way possible while at the same time, safeguarding the privacy of patient data as we move to a more technology driven approach to healthcare management,” she explained.
Minister of Health, Hon. Eugene Hamilton joined his colleagues in thanking the Ambassador and the people of Taiwan for the donation. He noted that the equipment will aid in more efficient patient care.
“This donation is therefore designed to strengthen the hospital’s information management system by providing information and computer hardware and software in order to accomplish this. Once operational, optimally, the technologies in my view will have an immediate and direct on the accuracy and timeliness of treatment and diagnostic intervention,” he said, adding “It will have impact on cost forecasting, cost tracking, cost containment, and the overall planning and management of the people’s resources.”
Resident Ambassador of the Embassy of the ROC (Taiwan), His Excellency George Gow Wei Chiou said his embassy has been working closely with the government on the project and he praised the Ministry of Health for its efforts.
“With increasing focus on the health welfare of the public, the Ministry of Health has worked restlessly in past years to upgrade overall information facility of the hospital network in St. Kitts and Nevis,” he said, noting that “These great efforts have placed St. Kitts and Nevis as the leading country to merge technology with public health and meet the standard and policy of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean states.”
Hon. Vincent Byron, who is responsible for the Ministry of Communication, outlined the purpose of the project, stating that as phase one is complete, this donation will assist in the completion of phase 2.
“The primary purpose of the project is to enhance public health analysis and knowledge management. This is via the provision service hospital information system [as] far [as] I am advised that modules to support medical records, pharmacy, x-ray, doctor consultation, accounting and ward management functions have been completed. The addition of modules to support laboratory functions is scheduled to be completed in this year, 2016,” he said.
Phase 3 of the hospital information system project will be the interconnectivity of all satellite sites.
This section of the project costs approximately 130 thousand dollars.
Over the past years, the ROC (Taiwan) has donated to the federation in several areas including the agricultural and education sectors as well as the development of small and medium enterprises (SMEs).