HEALTH OF THE NATION
TBY talks to Konrad Kirlew, CEO of GWest Centre, on the vision behind the establishment of GWest, providing quality care and services, and its expansion plans.

BIOGRAPHY
Konrad Kirlew was born in Jamaica. He attended college at the University of Florida and medical school at Stanford University. He trained as a radiologist at UCLA and worked as a board-certified radiologist in Florida before returning to Jamaica in 1998. He is the Managing Director of GWest Corporation and several Jamaican medical imaging companies.What did the launch of GWest bring to Jamaica?
The idea behind GWest is to create a modern medical environment, which allows my colleagues and I to practice medicine in Montego Bay similar to the way I was trained in the US. We needed to create a medical environment that was modern, efficient, and provided a high quality of service. Hospiten is here, so we are not the only players in the market. There are similarities; however, there are also some major differences. For example, Hospiten is perhaps more interested in tourists than the local market, whereas the local market is our primary market. People coming to work and live in Jamaica usually have three questions. They want to know about the crime rate, the education system, and the availability of healthcare. There are many Jamaicans in North America and the UK, who are retiring or thinking of coming back to live. Having a place like this gives them a level of comfort and reassurance that they will receive quality care. In addition to taking care of the local market, it is also important to take care of the Jamaican diaspora. Thirdly, we want to eventually do more medical tourism.
What is your evaluation of the health of the population and the medical services that they receive?
Basic healthcare is reasonable, and the quality of personnel is high, as there is an intelligent population. What we most lack is financial resources. Therefore, much of the equipment in our public hospitals is older and not maintained well. Our diet is still relatively healthy; people still exercise and walk. It will be interesting to see in 25 years how this will change. We see more obese people now than we did 25 years ago. People drink and smoke; still, these are not huge societal problems. The basics are taken care of; however, at the moment the public healthcare system is stretched thin and a great deal of the care ends up being done privately. This benefits the private sector to some degree because, in a place like Canada or elsewhere, things will be done by the public system because it has those resources.
Do you address international and local customers differently?
We give the same kind of care to all. However, we have some ideas on how to attract international clients. For example, because labor is cheaper here, an operation such as a joint replacement may cost 30-40% less than in Florida. Therefore, it is possible to attract people who need that surgery and can get a vacation at the same time. It is also possible to attract international doctors to do the surgeries and have some time to relax afterwards. GWest operates four core facilities. There is an urgent care center, which opened in November 2017. Our lab opened in January 2018. In late 2018, we will open an ambulatory surgery center, with two large operating rooms and two small rooms, and a small overnight in-patient facility of eight beds. We do not seek to be a fully-fledged hospital; our main emphasis is on outpatient care. We are considering plans to open similar centers in other parts of Jamaica, where there is nothing quite like this with a wide range of services. There will be many practitioners, surgeons, and specialists using our facilities such as the surgery center and the lab.
What are your priorities for the coming year?
There are several priorities. One is to complete the facility and get the whole group of services completely integrated and running smoothly. We are dealing with people, and getting the right team in place, training, and so on takes time. This first year is completing the process of getting it right. Then, we ramp up the marketing, develop our client base and partnerships. This includes maybe operating in other geographical locations.

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Interview
Most Honourable Andrew Holness, Prime Minister, Jamaica
TBY talks to the Most Honourable Andrew Holness, Prime Minister of Jamaica, on efforts to foster sustainable and inclusive growth, the main challenges ahead for the nation, and its key successes in improving the business environment.
read articleInterview
Diane Edwards, President, Trade & Investment Jamaica (JAMPRO)
TBY talks to Diane Edwards, President of Trade & Investment Jamaica (JAMPRO), on making investments throughout the whole value chain, becoming a regional distribution hub, and boosting niche agricultural output.
read articleInterview
Courtney O. Campbell, President & CEO, Victoria Mutual
TBY talks to Courtney O. Campbell, President & CEO of Victoria Mutual, on the origins of financial inclusion in Jamaica, helping people get a start on their property journey, and assisting young businesses to exploit a positive business environment.
read articleInterview
Raymond Walker, Founder, Chairman & CEO , Caribbean Assurance Brokers Ltd. (CAB)
TBY talks to Raymond Walker, Founder, Chairman & CEO of Caribbean Assurance Brokers Ltd. (CAB), on fighting for its clients, using environmentally sound methods to drive down costs, and continuously driving innovation.
read articleInterview
Emanuel DaRosa,, President & CEO, Jamaica Public Services (JPS)
TBY talks to Emanuel DaRosa, President & CEO of Jamaica Public Services (JPS), on pursuing common goals in the best possible way, utilizing Jamaica's most abundant natural resources, and satisfying half of Jamaica's energy needs through renewables.
read articleInterview
Winston Watson, Group General Manager, Petroleum Corporation of Jamaica (PCJ)
TBY talks to Winston Watson, Group General Manager of Petroleum Corporation of Jamaica (PCJ), on keeping a hand in both green and black energy, helping the government reach its 2030 Energy Vision targets, and educating people on the importance of conservation.
read articleFocus: LNG Investments
Light My Fire Jamaica
The Jamaican government is pushing private investment in liquefied natural gas (LNG) to provide cheaper and cleaner energy to households and businesses. Through partnerships with local and international companies, New Fortress Energy is leading the way to ignite this sector.
read articleInterview
Gordon Shirley, President & CEO, Port Authority of Jamaica (PAJ)
TBY talks to Gordon Shirley, President & CEO of the Port Authority of Jamaica (PAJ), on the country's developing role as a logistics hub, attracting more cruise ships, and his outlook for the economy at large.
read articleInterview
Fritz Pinnock, President, Caribbean Maritime University
TBY talks to Fritz Pinnock, President of Caribbean Maritime University, on capitalizing on the rising power of the global south, customizing goods before they reach the final consumer, and leveraging Jamaica's geostrategic location to create added value.
read articleInterview
Winston Adams, JP, Executive Chairman, University of the Commonwealth Caribbean (UCC)
TBY talks to Winston Adams, JP, Executive Chairman of the University of the Commonwealth Caribbean (UCC), on the university's illustrious history, its upcoming strategies, and Caribbean Knowledge City.
read articleInterview
Michael Williams, Acting Executive Director , Mona School of Business and Management
TBY talks to Michael Williams, Acting Executive Director of Mona School of Business and Management, on maintaining quality across its programs, its achievements in the Caribbean, and the school's research-based approach.
read articleFocus: Downtown Kingston Revitalization
Drinking from the Fountain of Youth
Although the subject of much talk, downtown Kingston has been relatively neglected for many years while surrounding areas of the city attracted more real estate developments. A series of public and private investments indicate that the trend is finally reversing.
read articleInterview
Timothée F. Delebarre, Country Manager, VINCI Construction Grands Projets (VCGP)
TBY talks to Timothée F. Delebarre, Country Manager of VINCI Construction Grands Projets (VCGP), on diversifying their business lines, expanding Kingston's Port, and developing innovative financing mechanisms.
read articleInterview
Dittie Guise, General Manager, Montego Bay Convention Centre (MBCC)
TBY talks to the late Dittie Guise, General Manager of Montego Bay Convention Centre (MBCC), on marketing the convention center, creating an integrated tourist experience, and preparing for more events and visitors.
read articleFocus: Linking Tourism
Lifting All Boats in the Rising Tide
Although significantly contributing to the economy, tourism in Jamaica suffers from an inadequate level of linkage with other sectors. The government, in partnership with private actors, is launching a number of initiatives to ensure that international tourists meet local businesses.
read articleInterview
Natalie St. Louis, Founder, CEO & Managing Director, Strategic Konnections & Management Services Limited
TBY talks to Natalie St. Louis, Founder, CEO & Managing Director of Strategic Konnections & Management Services Limited, on working with businesses to further their goals, the importance of engaging with consultants, and goals for the coming year.
read article