Minister of Health & Wellness Marks Handover of Medical Supplies from China at QEH

Senator the Hon. Lisa Cummins, Minister of Health & Wellness, recently visited the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) to mark the handover of medical equipment and supplies valued at more than $136,000, donated by the Government of the People’s Republic of China in support of healthcare services in Barbados.

The donation was officially presented during a brief ceremony at the hospital on Friday and forms part of the longstanding cooperation between Barbados and China in strengthening healthcare services.

Speaking at the ceremony, Ambassador Zheng Bingkai of China to Barbados noted that the donation reflects the continued commitment to collaboration between the two countries in the area of healthcare.

“These medical resources will enhance the capital’s medical capacity and directly benefit the people of Barbados,” he said. “It’s also a tangible step towards building China-Barbados healthcare cooperation.”

The event also coincided with the arrival of the 8th China Medical Team, whose members have recently begun their year of service at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, working alongside local healthcare professionals.

Addressing members of the media and stakeholders during the ceremony, Minister Cummins noted that she has spent her first weeks in office engaging with partners across the healthcare sector and listening to their perspectives on the system.

“Over the last few weeks since assuming office, I have been spending time listening — listening to what the sector as a whole needs and what the people within the sector are saying,” she said.

The Minister explained that she has been meeting regularly with representatives from the Ministry of Health and Wellness, the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, private sector partners, and other healthcare stakeholders as part of efforts to assess the current state of the healthcare system.

Strengthening Partnerships in Healthcare

Minister Cummins emphasised that the Government remains committed to strengthening the healthcare system and to developing the Queen Elizabeth Hospital into a world-class medical facility.

She noted that while challenges within the healthcare sector are acknowledged, there is strong support from stakeholders and partners to address them.

“There is a clear and strong commitment that I have encountered so far from all stakeholders to delivering world-class healthcare to Barbados,” she said.

The Minister also highlighted the importance of partnerships in achieving this goal, pointing to the longstanding collaboration between Barbados and the People’s Republic of China in supporting healthcare development.

Minister Cummins added that the Government’s approach involves carefully examining every aspect of the healthcare system to determine where improvements are needed while building on areas that are already performing well.

“We are deconstructing and reconstructing a healthcare ecosystem,” she said. “That means examining the constituent parts that require attention, recognising the areas that are working well, and rebuilding in a way that allows us to deliver a world-class health service for Barbadians.”

Members of the 8th China Medical Team will work alongside local healthcare professionals at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital over the coming year, continuing the collaboration between the two countries in support of healthcare delivery in Barbados.