What is TTHSI?
TTHSI stands for Trinidad and Tobago Health Sciences Initiative – a national programme which is intended to be the guiding blueprint for advancing medicine and health sciences in Trinidad and Tobago and the region.
How long has TTHSI been in existence?
The programme has been in development since 2005. In February 2006, a collaboration agreement was signed between the UTT and Johns Hopkins Medicine International, which facilitated the commencement of several project assessments in three broad categories – academic training and research; clinical services provision; and management systems and infrastructure development.
What are the terms of the collaboration between Johns Hopkins and UTT?
The terms of the agreement between the UTT and Johns Hopkins have been approved by Government, and provide for advisory services, consulting and educational activities related to the three project categories outlined above.
Is TTHSI a legal entity?
The TTHSI is not a legal entity, but a term used to identify the umbrella under which several integrated projects with a common objective are being developed and implemented. These projects require the collaboration of institutions which are legal entities in their own right.
Which institutions are in collaboration as part of the TTHSI?
The present collaborators are the Government of Trinidad and Tobago (primarily through the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Science, Technology and Tertiary Education), the UTT, and Johns Hopkins Medicine International. There is also interface with several private- and public- sector entities in the sector, and as the programme develops, it is expected that additional institutions will become formal partners.
What are the objectives of the Project?
The TTHSI will build institutional capacity and technical know-how in order that citizens may consistently receive more advanced and responsive health services. Specific outcomes include:
- sustainable and long-term improvement of the health sciences in Trinidad and Tobago, related to research, education and patient care;
- development of training and education programmes for physicians, clinical professionals, health administrators and support staff;
- development of specialty and subspecialty clinical programmes for providing quality care to citizens;
- the creation of an environment which would attract and keep top medical personnel from around the world; and
- the establishment of the infrastructure and industry which would allow the promotion of pharmaceutical industries and biomedical research in Trinidad and Tobago.
How is the project managed/organised?
Initially, a Health Sciences Secretariat was established at the UTT to facilitate the coordination of the TTHSI, and two oversight Committees with representation from Government, UTT and Johns Hopkins provided strategic and operational oversight. More recently, an Inter-Ministerial Committee has been mandated to provide overall direction to for the initiative, and through the respective line Ministries, will oversee the activities being conducted by the UTT and a Special Purpose State Enterprise called the Trinidad and Tobago Health Sciences Initiative Company Ltd, being established to implement the clinical and infrastructure projects.
Once TTHSI projects are initiated, what improvements are likely to be seen in the health sector?
TTHSI projects generally fall under three clusters – academic training and research; clinical and specialty services; and management systems and infrastructure development. TTHSI’s impact should be seen in an improved ability to apply modern approaches and technologies in delivering health services, improved treatment of chronic ailments such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes, and over the medium term, an improved physical and systems infrastructure with an appropriate distribution of services to meet the needs of the population.
What differentiates TTHSI from other HSR projects?
The TTHSI is intended to compliment other health initiatives being implemented by the Government. However, while previous initiatives have focussed on infrastructure and systemic improvement, the core focus of the TTHSI is to expand training and education opportunities for personnel at all levels, in order that the technical and administrative capacity required for a modern health sector develops in Trinidad and Tobago. The Initiative also supports the expansion of specialist services available in public sector.
Will TTHSI undertake additional Projects in the future?
Yes. Once the several approved projects presently being developed have become operational, the TTHSI will conduct additional assessments and reviews to determine other areas in which the expertise available from the various collaborations can be applied in further developing health services provision.
Will TTHSI projects be staffed with Johns Hopkins personnel?
It is not the intention of Johns Hopkins Medicine International to provide staff for the TTHSI projects. Johns Hopkins will have an assistant director based in Trinidad to facilitate the interaction between Johns Hopkins and the various parties involved in the TTHSI as the initiative progresses. In addition, some of the Johns Hopkins faculty will be involved in projects either in an advisory, consultancy or service delivery capacity, but no long-term relocation is envisaged at this time.
When will the facilities at Port of Spain and Central Trinidad be ready for patients?
Hospitals require several years of planning, review, approval and construction before they can be commissioned. The development of the Master Plan for services at the two facilities will be completed by mid-2008. Based on the recommendations provided, decisions will be required on the approach for completing the architectural design and for the actual construction of the facilities. This will likely take 4-5 years before the physical facilities are complete. | 
