ANOTHER GROUP OF PRIVATE DOCTORS is seeking to buy Bayview Hospital.
Yesterday chairman of Bayview, Dr William Duguid, confirmed the owners were having discussions with physicians who were interested in making the purchase.
The Opposition Member of Parliament explained that the 20-year-old private institution was owned by a coalition of 16 doctors and some of them as well as other doctors had expressed an interest in the facility since some of the older shareholders were seeking to liquidate their assets.
The asking price for the Beckles Road, St Michael hospital is reportedly $10 million with a breakdown of about $1 million in medical equipment.
However, Duguid denied suggestions emanating from certain sources that Government was also interested in obtaining the facility.
“It is not true that Government is looking to purchase the hospital,” he said.
Sources had indicated to the SUNDAY SUN that Government was looking at the feasibility of offering medical tourism deals which would include accommodation at Hilton Barbados as part of the package.
“Already talks have been held with the hotel (Hilton) primarily because of its location which is less than a mile away from the Bayview Hospital,” one source close to the hospital pointed out, adding Government would be hoping to woo Caribbean and international visitors seeking medical attention to the facility.
Yesterday Minister of Health Donville Inniss dismissed the suggestion that Government was considering buying Bayview Hospital as a “figment of someone’s fertile imagination”. He said Government had been approached by the current owners with certain concerns but his ministry was still to respond to them.
He stressed Government was focused on ensuring that existing state health facilities offered the best possible care to all Barbadians.
Bayview Hospital was opened in 1989 and has seven private and four semi-private rooms.
It has an operating theatre suite which consists of three theatres and a purpose-built day unit which accommodates six patients.
Over the years, the hospital has offered speciality medical services.
These include: general surgery; ear, nose and throat treatment; orthopaedic, cosmetic, reconstructive, dental and maxillofacial and urologic surgical procedures.
The hospital also specialises in neurology and cardiology services. (TS)
