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Este informe no está disponible en español. EditorialCARIBBEAN BUSINESSHealthcare: An Industry With Great Potential…Gov. Calderon: Speak For YourselfBy FRANCISCO JAVIER CIMADEVILLAJanuary 9, 2003 An industry with great potential Recent news reports on the local healthcare industry have left the impression the whole system is on the brink of collapse. We beg to differ. The massive exodus of local nurses to better-paying jobs at stateside hospitals, the shortage of ob-gyn medical care due to insufficient malpractice coverage, and the continued concern about the financial stability of the government’s health reform, among others, are indeed serious challenges that must be tackled. But meanwhile, Puerto Rico’s hospital and healthcare industry has slowly but surely risen to an enviable position of leadership in the Caribbean that presents unique economic development potential. Over the years, the island’s leading hospitals have consistently made massive investments in plant, equipment, and training, which have allowed them to expand the medical treatments and procedures they offer to the point they’re at par with stateside hospitals in most medical specialties and subspecialties and there are ever-fewer procedures not available locally. Indeed, as reported by our front-page story, every day there are fewer local residents who need to travel to the States for medical treatment and more and more neighbors, especially from the Caribbean, who come to Puerto Rico for treatment instead of the U.S. mainland. What’s surprising is that notwithstanding those remarkable advances in medical health technology and infrastructure, Puerto Rico is nowhere near exploiting the business and economic development potential of its sophisticated hospital and healthcare industry. Contrary to stateside medical destinations such as Houston, Boston, Cleveland, or Miami, Puerto Rico hasn’t developed the necessary complimentary infrastructure--such as affordable hotels near top-notch hospitals, for example. Neither does the island market itself as a healthcare destination. Imagine what could be the benefit to Puerto Rico if a minimum advertising and marketing efforts were in place. Finally, Puerto Rico’s leading hospitals should continue to invest in improvements and expansions in order to be able to offer even those procedures--such as liver, pancreas, and bone marrow transplants, for example--not currently available locally. If these things were done, Puerto Rico’s healthcare industry could become an even greater contributor to job creation and to the island’s overall economic development. Speak for yourself We are saddened and embarrassed by the tone of Gov. Sila Calderon’s most recent written communication to the president of the United States. As Bush pains over the most difficult decision a commander in chief is ever called upon to make, namely, to send young American men and women, including Puerto Ricans, into harm’s way, in this case in an all-but-certain war with Iraq, our governor told the president the U.S. Navy’s intention to conduct training exercises in Vieques this month--by a battle group certain to be en route to the Persian Gulf--"offends the sensibility of Puerto Ricans." "It is patently offensive to the sensibility of our people to expect them to endure yet another round of exercises without any explanation or reassurance," Gov. Calderon wrote to President Bush. Madam, in a matter of weeks, our men and women in uniform, including Puerto Ricans, are certain to be risking a lot more than an offense to their sensibilities in defense of our democracy and our freedom. They will be risking their lives for all of us. Who’s offending whose sensibility? In this matter, you are certainly speaking for yourself--whatever your political purposes may be--and perhaps for other Puerto Ricans with hidden agendas. But we are sure you aren’t speaking for the majority of us. We can only hope the president, the Congress and, more importantly, our men and women in uniform realize that. This Caribbean Business article appears courtesy of Casiano Communications.
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