The Tribune

By NATARIO McKENZIE

Tribune Bsuiness Reporter

nmckenzie@tribunemedia.net

A Nassau-based laboratory has expanded its footprint to Sandyport, as it seeks to curb millions of dollars in annual medical testing outflows and become “the standard” for the Bahamas.

Bonnie Culmer, Bonaventure Medical Laboratory’s (BML) medical technologist and chief executive, estimated that more than $500,000 was being spent with foreign private laboratories and hospitals on a monthly basis to test samples.

Mrs Culmer, who was a panellist at Scotiabank’s Small Business Week discussion, said: “There’s still the mentality that foreign is better and we want to challenge that notion.We want to be the standard for laboratory testing in the Bahamas.”

Bonaventure now has a second laboratory in Sandyport, in addition to its Centerville office, with plans on the drawing board for other ways to expand its laboratory footprint.

“We have, when you include part-timers, 12 employees,” Mrs Culmer said. “We decided to open a second lab back in January. You have the centre on Blake Road, a few doctors in the Sandyport Plaza, and also a lot of people who reside out west.

“Just the idea of having to come into town to get blood tests done, I figured we could capture the persons who have to come from out western New Providence. I thought it was a good location and an excellent hub.

“When it comes to sending tests abroad, I believe that between the private labs and the hospitals, you’re looking at well over $50,000 a month. I’m sure I’m underestimating the amount. That’s money that could be kept right here and it’s not for a lack of us being able to do the test,” said Mrs Culmer.

“We have a good rapport with all the labs. I try to compete with the price they get so that whatever they’re going to pay, they may pay us a little more because our cost is going to be a bit more, as they’re doing a lot more volume abroad.

“They may pay $30 in Florida and $35 here. Then you have to take into account shipping. If I get a test today, they can get it back this afternoon. If you send it away they have to wait for the courier to take it over and they may get it back the next afternoon depending on the linkage they have. The idea is to keep the funds in the Bahamian economy.”