It's one of the most bustling centers of commerce and activity, but San Pedro still doesn't have a proper clinic. But it will soon after a contract was signed today between the Lions Organization which runs the local clinic and the Ministry of Health.
The clinic has been slowly built over the years from private contributions but now government has agreed to make it a part of the health reform project and upgrade it to a full polyclinic including 24 hour emergency healthcare. The head Lion Milo Paz told us how it will benefit the community.
Milo Paz, San Pedro Lions Club
"For San Pedro being the number one tourist destination this will be vital if we want to attract more tourists. It is very important for the community to have this service because before or at times of emergencies at night we didn't have doctors available and then airplanes cannot fly out of the island. So having a 24-hour service for the community of San Pedro is a milestone for the government and especially for the San Pedro Lions Club. Our motto is to serve and we are here to serve the community in San Pedro."
"It will be staffed by the government with doctors and nurses to have the services that we were mentioned earlier. The 'poly clinic 2' will be run by a board of directors which will include three from the San Pedro Lion Club, three from government, and one from the San Pedro Town Council."
Fortunato Noble,
Will it be free of cost?
Milo Paz, San Pedro Lions Club
"No they will be charges of course; all services have charges. On the Lions part, it is very important that we keep the expenses or the fees as low as possible to serve the less fortunate which is the Lions' main goal. The government is pledging to implement the NHI out here in San Pedro and the full details of that are not known as yet because the board of directors has to be formed and then they will start working on the facility, and fees, and the operations of the facility."
The contract was signed today between Minister of Health Hon. Vildo Marin and Milo Paz.