Belize Experiences A Shortage in Trained Urologists

The demand for urologists in Belize is on the rise as more and more people seek specialized care for urinary tract and reproductive system issues. However, there is a shortage of trained urologists in the country, with not many new practitioners venturing into this field of medicine. Urologist Dr. Byron Simmons, says this has led to longer wait times for patients and a need for increased recruitment and training programs to address the growing demand. Dr. Simmons, and that this has been an ongoing issue within the medical sector, and the effects are now becoming apparent.

Dr.Byron Simmons, Urologist, Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital: “We always ask our new graduating physicians them to consider the field of urology, we have a high demand and very few urologists in Belize. We have approximately about six to seven urologists total and it’s obviously product of long term I think it is something that has been lacking over the course of years not only urology but in medicine in general and we have not taken up the mantra in regards to resolving these problems, at least tackling them in a systemic fashion gradually over the course of time. So they have just built up and now we have what is the problem we have at hand. And what you rightly said at the beginning we have limited resources so we have to be innovative and we need to think out of the box in regards to trying to maximize whatsoever resources we have available so as to be able to resolve our country’s problem. Yes we need to train more specialists across the board not only in Urology but in all specialties and yes it would be good to have local home grown physicians that would eventually supplement the need to bring doctors from abroad although the ones that have come from abroad well they have served the country well also.”