KINGSTON, Jamaica — Six children from the Bustamante Hospital for Children (BHC) will access well-needed cardiac treatment at the Health City Hospital in the Cayman Islands.

A news release from the Ministry of Health disclosed that two of the six children left Jamaica for the Cayman Islands on Tuesday, to begin treatment while the remaining four will depart the island later this week. Also one parent or guardian of each patient will also be allowed to make the trip.

The BHC said children at the hospital will be able to access cardiac treatment because of an agreement, established in January, for Paediatric Cardiac Services between the Ministry of Health through the South East Regional Heath Authority and Health City, Cayman Islands.

Minister of Health, Dr Christopher Tufton says: “This agreement is critical in meeting the cardiac surgery needs of the BHC which is unable to carry out the required number of surgeries due to limited infrastructure.

“It is through these types of partnership that we will be able to improve service delivery especially in areas with shortfalls.”

Through this agreement, children at BHC who require urgent cardiac surgical interventions will be referred to Health City Hospital.

The Ministry of Health said it will underwrite the cost of airfare for the patients and accompanying parents, while the Health City Hospital will provide heart surgery and all related ancillary and medical services including accommodation, medical supplies, pharmaceuticals and follow up care free of cost.

Meanwhile, the ministry disclosed that through an agreement with Chain of Hope UK and other key stakeholders, a new Cardiac Centre is being constructed at the BHC , which will allow many children to access better cardiac care and allow BHC to provide more cardiac surgeries and treatment locally.

It further explained that the agreement with Health City is strategic because it facilitates shortfalls now, reduces waiting time and more importantly saves lives.

It also establishes important regional partnerships. Until the Cardiac Centre at BHC is completed, as often as the need is identified for cardiac surgery at the BHC, arrangements will be made to have children treated at Health City Hospital, the ministry said.