AmbergrisCaye.com Home Forums Talk Belize Chat Area Making the Move ??

Ernie and ALL, in the past it has been the COLLECTIVE outcry of the public and xpats that has met and opposed many of the proposed changes to the local environment and ecology in Belize. And, only a collective outcry, from those who want medical reform, will be responded to by the authorities. It is apparent that there are a large number of xpats who have an abundance of expertise in health systems and business experience. My guess is that a group of this nature would make a significant impression on the authorities through their written petition for changes that will permit the operation of a 5 star assisted living facility. (I'm 83 years and would like to be it's first resident). There is no doubt in my mind that every xpat in Belize today will be forced to decide his/her course of action regarding their declining years. (Return to the city traffic or spend the remainder if your days watching the boats go by and smoking Cuban cigars). You have done it before. You can do it again. If You Build It, They Will Come.

Don, you have lived far to long to be so profoundly naive...

Most elderly stay with family or at Octavia Waight in San Ignacio or Sister Cecilia in Belize City. Banana Bank lodge advertised assisted living services; Blue Cielo in Belize City is also another good contact

Katie, Thanks for your suggestions.I wish to assure all that my posts here are not a troll, I am not a liar, naieve perhaps, but uninformed on MANY subjects. Perhaps it has been my mistake to think that a number of 5 star facilities, managed and directed by competant medical staff, would be a positive addition to the economy, job growth, improved health care, retention of xpats, imports of people like me, and on and on. It would seem that if things are to change they will only be made through your collective cry for reforms. And, other that to attempt to answer any questions you may have, I will probably have no more comments to share on this subject. I think it may be possible that I could be refused entry into Belize next month , as it is, because of my big mouth.

Don,
Not to hamper your wonderful idealism there are realities to consider. Firstly, as much as you would like to believe otherwise Expats are a tiny fraction of the economy in Belize. It may surprise you that tourism as a whole is under 20%. I have participated in the development of 2 specialty surgical centers and can tell you the infrastructure necessary for the types of facilities you are speaking of would be in the tens of millions of dollars.There is little interest by the GOB to allocate finite resources to give Belizeans proper/adequate healthcare no less non Belizeans. Even less so by the "private sector" because there is no reimbursement from any source other than residents(governmental). The numbers won't add up. There are many,many other "medical tourism" locations that already have world class facilities and staff as well as exotic locales(Mexico,Costa Rica,Panama,Dominican Republic, etc.).Just my opinion...

Medical Tourism might have a place in Belize, which would be incremental tourism. These services are typically private pay / elective. It stands to reason that the benefit to Belize (especially the Island!) would be more greater public access to technologies / support capabilities, such as Lab/ Radiology/ Diagnostic equipment.

These are the pros IMO (and these are HUGE Pros!):
1. Proximity to the USA (target market for Medical Tourism - private pay).
2. English speaking country.

CONS:
1. Higher costs in Belize (labor is higher than competing countries), cost of imported supplies/equipment and patient transport (airfare).
2. Resistance even for Specialized/ Expert Licensed Physicians to be granted approval to practice.
3. Quality as related to competency (see above). The # of procedures completed per year by Physician is a measure of competency in the Medical Industry.
4. Medical Tourism is a business dependent upon "peer referrals", which may be challenging considering #2 and #3.

Any "deal" that is made with any company investing in Medical Tourism should address local access (24 hr) to these services, which would create a higher comfort level for Assisted Living Facility development, IMO.

In any case, I do hope to see SOMETHING happen here in this regard on the Island one day

I appologize if I have left the impression that a 5star assisted living facility should, even remotely, be compared to the operation of a medical tourism program or that it might be funded through some government bureau. It is simply just another small business directed toward serving the daily needs of an aging population on a continuing basis. "No surgery, No MRI, Just daily medications under the eye of a competant medical professional.

Sorry to confused the two, but believe the success of an Assisted Living(AL) facility is dependent on access to a Hospital/ medical care. What happens when: Patients fall and break their hip? Cardiac complications? Renal Failure requiring dialysis? Infections/ UTIs?

So, I was just backing into the idea what Assisted Living might look like on an Island....

It is obvious that you, and many others, have a good grasp on the problems involved in furthering the health care system in Bz. It would seem that the US and Belize governments have a great deal in common,,, both seem to continue putting off bringing the future of the country's fiscal economys to immediate resolution. Both seem to find "hyping" minor issues the way to keep the public distracted from the real needs. In democratic countries political change has only been forced through things like voter public outcry, marches on Washington and threats of third party support.

Some good discussion here - and it could happen.
I think of living here - in relationship to medical care - like living out in the country in any part of the US. Within hours we could be on our way to some of the finest care in the world in Houston or Dallas.