Guyanese across the country should be able to benefit from the decentralisation of regional and clinical health services. The 2016 National Budget has made allocations for the sector that will ensure this becomes a reality.
Georgetown : Minister of Public Health Dr. George Norton informed the National Assembly last evening that this ‘decentralisation’ will ensure that, “consistent and adequate quality health care is provided to all citizens across the 10 administrative regions, based on the sound values of equity, solidarity and quality health services as a human right.”
Approximately $13.3B was allotted to this programme of which $11.9B is current expenditure. This, Dr. Norton said, will empower the regions, “through training and increased human resources so that this ministry can be successful in its plan to decentralise the regional system.”
As part of the improvements planned, the Health Minister indicated that a standard complement of staff for each region is being put in place to avoid the multi-tasking of the existing staff, “who in the past, under the PPP regime, have been called upon to function in disciplines outside of their mandate. This must be a thing of the past,” Norton stated.
He added that each region would also benefit from the continued deployment of medical doctors and other personnel to hinterland regions. The Public Health Ministry already has a national plan to permanently place a physician in every health center of this country, the Health Minister announced.
The sum of $1.5B was also appropriated as capital expenditure to complete all unfinished structures. These include, the Experiment Health Centre at Bath (Region 5). “Even though it cost the government $32M to build in 2013, it remains unfinished and unfurnished,” Dr. Norton said. A similar situation exists at Yawong Health Center (Mountain Foot) in Region which remains incomplete even after $29M was expended. It was also revealed that the new x-ray unit at the Parika Health Center has not been used for three years and another at the Leguan hospital has been there for 10 years and not only unused, but unwrapped as well. Norton said these units would be put into service.
“We have only last week put into function the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at the West Demerara Regional Hospital with six brand new incubators, the fifth such unit now functioning in the country,” Norton said.
According to the Minister, this unit was never used though it was declared open by the previous Minister of Health on August 6, 2014. Also, the spacious, air conditioned post- natal ward, which can accommodate as many as 15 beds has now become functional.
Construction has started at the Leonora Diagnostic Centre which would see the maternity section fitted with beds and other facilities and equipment.
Renovation work at the Diamond Diagnostic Centre has been allotted $30M; $15M earmarked for the construction of a solid waste furnace for the Linden Hospital Complex; $20M to refurbish and upgrade a section of the old Linden Hospital building to establish a consultation room, a ten-bed surgical ward and patients’ waiting room, and $15M for the extension and remodelling of Kwakwani Hospital to house an operating suite.
“We are also in the process of adding new health facilities within the regions such as a health hut in Yakashiba, Region Two and Semonie, Region Nine,” Norton explained. Adequate housing facilities will also be provided for the staff to be deployed to the regions such as a medex house in Fort Island, Region Three and Sand Creek, Region Nine.
The Health Minister announced that for the first time, $30M has been allocated for the acquisition of a fully equipped state- of- the- art river ambulance with a radio set. An amount of $10.5M has also been allocated for three All-Terrain Vehicles (ATVs).
On the issue of the availability of drugs, Norton said, “Contrary to reports that are being peddled by regional politicians in the media and also in this House about the shortages of pharmaceuticals and medical supplies in the regions, our on the ground reports from our Regional Health Officers (RHOs) and from information gathered from the various health facilities, huts and centres that we have personally visited, there are pharmaceuticals and medical supplies in the regions, albeit a few shortages here and there.”
Explaining the process for the procurement of drugs and medical supplies, Dr. Norton noted that the procedure remains substantially centralised with the exception of minor purchases that include small emergency supplies, medical gases and snake bite kits.
He said allocations have been distributed across the regions as a first step in improving the budgeting of health costs at a regional level, even as work is advancing on a costing exercise to determine the total cost of drugs expended in each region, to address the disease profiles of each region.
Procedurally, the monies will be warranted back to the Ministry of Public Health from the regions (as was the case last year), to facilitate centralised procurement and the benefits of economies of scale and requisite quality controls. This means that the Regional Executive Officers will send the agreed sums to the ministry which will pool all these monies and purchase drugs and medical supplies for the facilities across the regions.
Acknowledging that the drug supply system is far from perfect, Norton noted there has been no administration, especially during the PPP reign that has had a situation free from shortages of drugs and medical supplies in some parts of the country. “This administration is taking steps to strengthen the management of the drug supply chain and a detailed review of all aspects, from procurement to distribution to consumption, is being undertaken,” Norton told the House.
“This Government will ensure adequate drugs and medical supplies are provided in all of our facilities across the country. We are not there yet, but we intend to get there soon and fully resolve these issues well within our first term in office,” the Health Minister stated.
On the issue of the availability of HIV/AIDS testing kits which was raised by opposition Member of Parliament, Joseph Hamilton, Norton assured the House there are enough kits in the country for the rest of 2016. In addition, he pointed out that contrary to what was said in the House during the debate, the ministry does have programmes to address disability and rehabilitation services.
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