Barbadians will be able to access a range of medical services when they visit the Chinese People’s Liberation Army Navy Hospital Ship from Sunday, December 21, up until Christmas Day, Thursday, December 25.

The ship, which will be here on its first humanitarian mission, has several departments, including: Cardiovascular Medicine, Respiratory Medicine, Gastroenterology, General Surgery, Orthopaedics, Otolaryngology, Ophthalmology, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Stomatology, Paediatrics, Dermatology, Traditional Chinese Medicine Physiotherapy, a Special Examination Room and Imaging Room.

Some of the surgeries performed on the hospital ship are:

• Gastroenterology: routine or painless gastrointestinal endoscopy
• General Surgery: appendectomy, hernia repair, breast lump removal, skin lesion removal, nail extraction
• Orthopaedics: internal fixation of spinal and limb fractures, rib fracture fixation, open limb trauma, treatment of knee injuries, and management of frozen shoulder
• Urology: enlarged scrotum ligation, redundant circumcision
• Obstetrics and Gynaecology: normal deliveries, caesarean sections
• Ophthalmology: cataract extraction/treatment for cataract
• Otolaryngology: Common surgeries of the ear, nose, and throat
• Traditional Chinese Medicine: Cupping, Acupuncture

The hospital ship has five medical areas for casualty transfer, triage, outpatient, inpatient, and evacuation, with eight operating rooms. It includes 14 clinical departments and seven auxiliary diagnostic units.

There is a helicopter on board to enhance emergency capacity, and the ship offers over 60 types of medical and surgical procedures, adhering to the principles of safety, efficacy, and technical maturity.

The public is reminded that the hospital ship will be accepting patients for medical services on Sunday, December 21; Monday, December 22; Tuesday, December 23; and Thursday, December 25 (Christmas Day), between 8:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m., and 2:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m.

The ship will be closed to the public on Wednesday, December 24, and Friday, December 26.

Author: Melissa Rollock

Published; December 19, 2025