Round-the-clock services at new health centre |04 July 2009

The new clinic at Malakoff Street in Victoria belongs to Dr K.S. Chetty and offers post-basic medical diagnostic and semi-specialised care.

It was officially opened by Minister for Health and Social Services Marie-Pierre Lloyd on Sunday in the presence of the doctor’s friends and patients.

It has five consulting rooms, three air-conditioned inpatient rooms with attached bathrooms, a laboratory, an ayurvedic and physiotherapy room, and a small theatre for surgery under local anaesthetic and for diagnostic procedures such as endoscopy.

It also has casualty and emergency rooms as well as a conference room for health seminars and in-service training of staff and students.

Addressing the guests, Mrs Lloyd said her presence shows the government recognises that private investment strengthens its policy of boosting the involvement of partners in offering quality healthcare to Seychellois.

She reminded those present that our Constitution calls on the state to promote private investment in health and added that the government is committed to creating the right environment for the growth of private healthcare.

She also said evidence proves that patients in Seychelles are both willing and able to contribute to their own care. The number of patients who visit the different private clinics daily attests to this.

Sharing her experience as the minister responsible for health, Mrs Lloyd said as a people Seychellois want choice and variety in the facilities available and also the best services to protect, promote and restore their health.

“Whether it is a private or public health facility, patients want that facility to give them quality healthcare and quality advice so they can quickly recover from their illness and move on with their lives and accomplish their dreams,” she added.

She said that with its key roles as facilitator, enabler and regulator, the government needs the support of the private sector to complement its efforts to provide quality healthcare to the people.

Dr Chetty said the clinic will offer services even during weekends and on public holidays.

It will also offer home visits by prior appointment and will attend to tourists at their hotels on request.

The centre, which will benefit from visiting specialists, will also have a specialised clinic for diabetic, asthmatic and hypertensive patients.

Beside laboratory facilities and specific screening, it will also provide several diagnostic services such as ultrasound.

The new clinic was designed by architect Ferdinand Berlouis and constructed by Sahajanand Builders.