By Lara Pickford-Gordon Friday, March 20 2009

Health Minister Jerry Narace yesterday said the US Embassy contacted the Health Ministry to indicate it had “full confidence” in the local health care system and its capacity to take care of US President Barack Obama who will be in Port-of-Spain next month for the Fifth Summit of the Americas.

“They have gone as far as saying that if something happened to President Obama they would expect he would be treated in Trinidad and Tobago by our health care system, and they are going to put out a statement,” Narace said while talking to reporters at the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex, Mt Hope. Narace gave this response when asked about the information contained at the US Department of State website which advised persons visiting this country to ensure they had “comprehensive travel and medical insurance” since “medical care is limited compared to that in the United States.”

Asked what officials had visited the local facilities to see the readiness to treat leaders such as Obama, Narace said the question should be posed to the US Embassy.

Asked about how much additional resources would be available for the summit, Narace said the resources used in the case of a disaster “have been adapted, and detailed information about doctors and nurses will follow shortly.”