There are 11,303 people awaiting elective surgeries across all regional health authorities (RHAs) as of June – the vast majority of whom require surgery on their eyes. An elective surgery is one that is pre-scheduled and not required for a life-threatening emergency.

The figures were part of a report done by the Urban Development Corporation (Udecott) on operationalising the Couva Hospital and Multi-Training Facility (CHMF).

There were 4,637 patients awaiting ophthalmology procedures, particularly for cataract, across all RHAs – 2,500 at the North West RHA, 1,556 at the South West RHA, 402 at the North Central RHA and 179 at the Eastern RHA.