More for those with less

THE Sixth Annual Illawarra Innovation Showcase served as the perfect backdrop for the official opening of Stage 1 of the Centre Health Complex at Barrack Heights, by Member for the Illawarra Marianne Saliba on Friday.

The Centre Health Complex, which is the brainchild of local GP Dr. Mohamad Rashid, is an integrated Primary Health Care and Health Informatics Facility, designed to provide comprehensive healthcare services in a one-stop-shop including primary health care, radiography, nuclear medicine, pathology, dental, optometry, laser clinic, sleep clinic, cosmetic health services, legal and financial health and pharmedics. There is even a coffee shop, a post office, a supermarket, a travel agent and a bottle shop as part of the Centres facilities.

Dr. Rashid said the Centre boasts a highly sophisticated technology core.

We use technology to provide virtual clinics, remote diagnostics and teleconferencing facilities to local, regional and global remote communities where access to high quality medical services or professional advice for medical practitioners has previously been unavailable, Dr. Rashid said.

We are attempting to overcome the Inverse Law, which dictates that those who need the most get the least.

Our aim has been to create a comprehensive health care delivery model which can be implemented in third world countries.

It has taken Dr Rashid more than 15 years to bring the Centre to fruition.

Michelle Greig, Chair of the Illawarra Innovation Showcase Steering Committee commended Dr Rashid on having the passion to pursue his vision and bring it to reality.

Years ago, this building housed a shopping centre with a large statue of a man out front, said Ms Greig.

It was fondly known by the locals as The Giant.

Now there is a new giant here in the form of Dr. Rashid.

Dr Rashid has spent years involved in extensive research, studying other health care models in Australia and overseas, collaborating with the World Health Organisation, encouraging the participation of investors and then building the Centre, integrating technology and making it operational.

The Illawarra has long been forging a reputation for innovation in many fields and it is exciting to see integrated healthcare delivery added to that list.

The benefits of the Centre also spread into the wider community according Mayor of Shellharbour, Cr David Hamilton.

The GP and specialist services available at the centre will help reduce the burden on hospital emergency departments for patients with problems not requiring hospitalisation, said Cr. Hamilton.

This will become even more evident when the Centre becomes a 24/7 operation in two or three years time.

Those present at the launch were treated to a demonstration of some of the Centres capabilities by way of a teleconference with GPs in rural NSW and overseas.

Ms Saliba said the new complex was the first stage in Centre Health Australias development of Shellharbour as the worlds first hi-tech primary healthcare city.

The Centre Health Complex will position the Illawarra as a leader in integrated primary healthcare and advanced medical technology, Ms Saliba said.

When Stage 2 of the complex is complete, the Informatics Centre will include a virtual clinic capable of providing training for GPs from around the world, bringing enormous community benefit to some of the worlds poorest areas and a unique service to GPs not otherwise able to access this training.

In addition, the Centre will help deliver economic and tourism benefits to Shellharbour and the rest of the Illawarra.

The Centre Health Complex is located at 9-25 Captain cook Drive, Barrack Heights. For information about services and hours of operation, call 4295 9999.