Project Name：Project for Strengthening Medical Imaging System in Belize

Project status：Completed projects

Cooperating Country：Central America, Belize

Project Description：

X-ray and ultrasound equipment are available in public regional hospitals and Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital (KHMH), the only tertiary hospital in Belize. However, most of the X-ray equipment is the conventional type that requires dark room for photographic processing and space for storing imaging records of patients, resulting in waste of medical imaging service time and hospital space. The radiographers and assistant radiographers who serve in public regional hospitals and KHMH are uncertified and receive on the job training. In Belize, there are only two radiologists working at KHMH and none within the public regional hospitals; furthermore, there are also a few within the private sector. In addition to radiologists, KHMH also has advanced medical imaging equipment, which means that the patient flow for medical imaging services at KHMH is 3 to 4 times higher on a monthly basis than that of regional hospitals. Therefore, this project aims to assist public hospitals in improving the accessibility of medical imaging services through Taiwan’s experience and expertise in the field of medical imaging. Outputs of the project include:
1. Digitizing medical imaging equipment in public hospitals in Belize.
2. Training physicians to become qualified radiologists and training radiographers for upgrading expertise on medical imaging equipment.
3. Improving the efficiency for obtaining and managing medical imaging services in public hospitals.

Implementation Start Date：2019-11-18

Implementation End Date：2023-11-17

Source of Funding：Ministry of Foreign Affairs/Ministry of Health, Belize/ Far Eastern Memorial Hospital

Project Objectives：

The objectives of this project are:
1.Digitize medical imaging equipment in public hospitals in Belize
(1)Digitize X-ray and ultrasound equipment in Western Regional Hospital and Northern Regional Hospital.
(2)Digitize medical imaging equipment used in Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital (KHMH).

2.Train physicians to become qualified radiologists and train radiographers for upgrading expertise on medical imaging equipment
(1)Train physicians to qualify as radiologists.
(2)Train radiographers for upgrading expertise on medical imaging equipment.

3.Improve the efficiency for obtaining and managing medical imaging services in public hospitals
(1)Install picture archiving and communications system (PACS) in selected hospitals.
(2)Develop the necessary radiology information system (RIS) in conjunction with PACS.
(3)Train technicians for PACS and RIS maintenance.

4.Consultants from Taiwan with the suitable backgrounds will conduct on-site follow-up assessments according to the requirements of the different stages of the project, for a total of three person-months each year.

Implementation Arrangement：Members of the Project will provide technical assistance and assistance for capacity building

Project Performance：Improve accessibility of medical imaging services in public hospitals in Belize.

Mission：Taiwan Technical Mission in Belize