Belize Explores Overseas Training for Medical Specialists
The government is exploring opportunities to send more Belizean healthcare professionals abroad for specialised training as it seeks to strengthen the country’s medical workforce.
Health Minister Kevin Bernard said discussions have taken place with Taiwan and other partners to help Belizeans access specialised training in areas where additional expertise is needed.
“We’re trying to send our people out to train, and one of the areas that we’ve been talking about with Taiwan and other areas is for us to be able to access those specialised training for persons in those capacities and other areas that we need in Belize,” Bernard said.
One area where specialised professionals are limited is mental health.
Bernard acknowledged the shortage of psychiatric professionals in Belize and said the government was working to attract additional specialists.
“It’s limited right now, but we are trying to our very best to ensure that we could attract some of these people to come so we could help the Attorney General and ministry as well to address some of these issues,” Bernard said.
Bernard also added that expanding the healthcare workforce would need to go hand in hand with investments in modern infrastructure, equipment and professional training to improve the services available to Belizeans.
“We remain committed as a government, we remain committed to the health care of this nation, to the improved delivery of service for our people.”