Functions of the Authority

The functions of the Authority include the following, (a) ensuring that the Hospital provides National Health Care Services through, (i) entering into contractual arrangements with the Ministry responsible for Health, the National Health Insurance Fund and other organisations and entities enabling it to receive and treat medical and surgical emergencies and referrals from all the districts on a global- budget basis or on a procedure or diagnosis-related reimbursement basis as may be determined from time to time by the Board; 8 Memorial Hospital Authority (ii) providing health services to the whole of Belize or any portion thereof in the event of the occurrence of national or other disaster; (iii) ensuring and facilitating the provision of training and practical opportunities for students studying medical, nursing or other health sciences, and for students studying hospital or health administration; (b) ensuring that the Hospital provides tertiary care to address specialized health needs at both the national and international levels through, (i) the provision of tertiary level care in accordance with national accreditation standards; (ii) co-ordinating referrals to and from district and other hospitals and physicians to the Hospital and abroad; (iii) ensuring that the Hospital be adequately staffed by suitably competent and appropriately trained health staff; (iv) establishing and maintaining linkages with, and becoming a member of, both local and international health authorities and facilities; Memorial Hospital Authority 9 (v) acquiring and maintaining, in accordance with the general policy guidelines set by the Ministry of Health, necessary technology appropriate for the delivery of the required standards of health care for patients treated in the Hospital or referred to or from local or foreign medical institutions; (c) ensuring that the Hospital act as a secondary care provider for the Belize District and the rest of Belize as the need arises from time to time by making sure that, (i) the Hospital be at all times adequately equipped with sufficient bed capacity to serve the Belize District; (ii) there be an efficient referral system between health and medical providers in the Belize District and the Hospital; (iii) there are efficient and effective communication channels between primary care and public health providers in the Belize District and elsewhere in Belize and the Hospital; (d) providing care and support to both the public and private sectors designed to ensure continuous and quality patient care and management through, (i) establishing and maintaining adequate infrastructure to facilitate 10 Memorial Hospital Authority the efficient and timely public and private patient care delivery; (ii) developing a mutual professional relationship based on integrity with health insurance providers, including without limitation health insurance companies, the Belize Social Security Board and other similar public and private organisations; (iii) developing and actively participating in and advocating for the development of appropriate and adequate mechanisms at all social levels designed to address social issues related to health and development; (iv) establishing a public relations unit and a patient redress unit; (v) ensuring patient privacy, subject to any general or specific approval of the Board, through the provision of private and semi-private patient rooms at the Hospital; (vi) facilitating the private use of the Hospital, subject to any general or specific approval of the Board, by entering into contracts with persons interested in such private use; (e) doing all such other things as may be necessary or expedient from time to time for the proper performance of its functions. Memorial Hospital Authority 11