Serious concerns are mounting over idle resources inside the Couva Children’s Hospital, even as operations continue on a phased basis.
For more than 10 years, citizens of Trinidad and Tobago have been waiting for the Children’s Hospital to be fully operational. However, to date, this has not become a reality.
Speaking at a recent media conference, Health Minister Dr. Lackram Bodoe revealed that millions of dollars’ worth of medical equipment remains unused.
TTT News was granted exclusive access to tour the hospital, getting a first-hand look at current operations and what lies behind its doors.
During the tour, empty and unused beds were seen in the paediatric wards. In the neonatal intensive care unit and paediatric ICU, there were no signs of activity.
According to the Chief Executive Officer of the South-West Regional Health Authority, Dr. Shevanand Gopeesingh, everything was untouched, some still covered in plastic.
Built at a cost of approximately TT$1.6 billion, the hospital was officially opened back in August 2015. It comes with 150 adult and 80 paediatric beds. Between 2020 and 2022, it was used to treat COVID-19 patients.
On Sunday 15th March 2026, Health Minister Dr. Lackram Bodoe told the nation that there are many pieces of equipment at the hospital that are still waiting to be used.
Following the general elections on April 28th, 2025, the hospital was recommissioned as a specialist children’s hospital, with its first paediatric surgeries performed in November.
Speaking at the recommissioning ceremony, Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar said while it will cost TT$78.2 million for the full operationalisation of the hospital, the activation will continue on a structured, phased basis.
Since then, specialised paediatric clinics have been held weekly.
Dr. Gopeesingh repeated statements made by the Health Minister that work is ongoing to repair some of the machines that have become non-functional during the time they were not in use.
Apart from services for children, the staff at the hospital have been able to complete over 500 surgeries.
Dr. Gopeesingh said these surgeries are part of efforts to clear the backlogs at the various Regional Health Authorities (RHAs).
The hospital also comes equipped with radiology, CT, and MRI machines.
Once fully operational, the hospital will be able to facilitate major surgeries.
Patients who are treated at the hospital are those who were recommended by the various Regional Health Authorities. The in-house pharmacy is also open to provide medicine for the hospital’s patients.