The Couva Medical and Multi-Training Facility (CMMF) will be returned to the University of the West Indies to conduct medical research when the time comes for it to no longer treat COVID-19 patients.
This is according to the Minister of Health, Terrence Deyalsingh, in response to a question from Guardian Media during a press conference on Wednesday.
“The Couva medical facility was given, transferred, to the University of the West Indies...when we take Couva off the grid as a COVID facility it will revert to its owner,” he said.
“Hopefully they could use it as a research facility, a research hospital similar to the model that is used in Mona, Jamaica and I think as a research hospital, it will add a significant degree and prestige and also aid in developing new techniques that will reach down to the benefit of the general population.”
The minister did not say whether a definitive decision was made to remove the hospital as yet.
Speaking at a Standing Finance Committee on October 5, Deyalsingh first pointed out the plan for the hospital post-COVID and noted the parallel healthcare system was being reviewed by officials.
COVID-19 hospitalisations have been steadily decreasing over the last few weeks with just 55 people warded across the entire treatment network as of Tuesday’s weekly update.
