The Gibraltar Health Authority have received a generous donation of £100,000 from the locally based philanthropic entity Pramila Trust, toward the purchase of a comprehensive gastrointestinal function testing kit.

The new equipment is for patients suffering from gastrointestinal disorders and contains four separate items that will help provide information to tailor treatment, decide suitability for certain surgical procedures and understand functional changes to help explain and diagnose bodily sensations. These four items are: High Resolution Impedance and Manometry (HRIM) system; High Resolution Ano-rectal Manometry system; Gastrogenius – breath test monitor; Urgent PC – posterior tibial nerve stimulator.

The kit will enable various tests to be carried out, giving doctors a clearer understanding of gastrointestinal issues, leading to quicker diagnosis and treatment. It will also mean patients no longer have to travel to Spain or UK tertiary centres for these tests, increasing accessibility to the tests for Gibraltar residents, cutting waiting times for patients and reducing costs for the GHA.

GHA Consultant General - Colorectal Surgeon, Specialist Gastroenterologist, Mr Denes Kovacs, stated: “We are grateful for the Pramila Trust for their generous donation which is going to be a great help in the management of our patients suffering of functional gastrointestinal disorders. They will now be able to have their comprehensive testing done locally, offering new diagnostic possibilities and avoiding the inconvenience of needing to travel abroad.”

Trustee of the Pramila Trust, Vikrant Udeshi, said: “We are delighted to be able to fund this new testing kit for the Health Authority. We hope it will have a positive impact in a short time for Gibraltarians needing a diagnosis and treatment for gastrointestinal issues. It is a pleasure for the Pramila Trust to be supporting such a worthwhile cause, whilst advancing medical diagnosis and care for our community.”

GHA Director General, Kevin McGee, said: “The Gibraltar Health Authority is delighted to have received such a generous grant from the Pramila Trust and I wish to express our deepest appreciation for such a kind gesture. This sophisticated piece of equipment will bring great benefits to patients suffering from gastrointestinal disorder and in order to maximise its positive impact, we have also committed to provide comprehensive training and maintenance of the kit, which has been installed and investigations are already scheduled.”

Minister for Health, the Hon Gemma Arias Vasquez, said: “We are extremely grateful to the Pramila Trust for their significant financial donation toward the purchase of this highly specialised piece of equipment. Other than the obvious medical benefits for patients, it will also mean that patients will no longer have to travel to Spain or UK tertiary centres for these tests, cutting waiting times for patients and reducing costs for the GHA. The Pramila Trust is a philanthropic organisation supporting child welfare, education and health equity in Gibraltar, Europe, Africa and India, and we welcome their decision to support the GHA with this generous donation to acquire new diagnostic equipment for the benefit of the community.”

Note to Editors:
Tests which will become available are:

• High-resolution oesophageal manometry – a test that measures how well the muscles in your oesophagus (the tube that moves food from your mouth to your stomach) are working by tracking pressure levels as you swallow, detecting possible weaknesses or spasms that create a swallowing problem.

• Oesophageal impedance measurement – checks how well food and liquids move through your oesophagus by detecting the flow of possible acidy substances, helping to identify acid reflux from stomach.

• Anorectal manometry – measures the strength and coordination of the muscles in your rectum and anus, helping to assess bowel problems like constipation or difficulty controlling bowel movements.

• The breath test monitor – used to assess small bowel bacterial overgrowth and gastroparesis (a condition where the stomach empties too slowly). It involves drinking a special liquid or eating a specific food then blowing into a device at different times. The test measures the gases in your breath, which can show how quickly your stomach is emptying. It helps doctors understand if your stomach is moving food at a normal pace or if it's slowed down, which can cause symptoms like nausea and bloating.

• A posterior tibial nerve stimulator – a small device used to treat conditions like faecal or urinary incontinence. It works by sending mild electrical pulses through a tiny electrode placed near your ankle, which stimulates the nerve that helps control sphincter muscle function. This stimulation can help improve bladder/anal control and reduce symptoms without the need for medications or surgery. It's a non-invasive treatment often used when other options haven't worked.

The Pramila Trust was established in November 2024 in Gibraltar to support child welfare, education and health equity through strategic philanthropy. The trust provides grants across Gibraltar, Europe, Africa and India to create positive change in the lives of vulnerable children and improve access to education and healthcare for underserved communities. www.pramilatrust.com

ENDS