Health Minister Dr Leslie Ramsammy recently signed a US$5M contract for the construction of a modern health bond for the sector. He called the investment an important step in the development of the local health sector because of current inadequate storage facilities.

Leslie Ramsammy

The new warehouse, which is to be constructed at the Eccles Industrial Site, East Bank Demerara, will store drugs and medicines. Bassoo and Sons Construction Company was awarded the contract and is expected to complete construction in ten months.

Speaking at the signing ceremony on Friday last Ramsammy emphasized that no health sector can deliver proper services unless there is a proper supply chain system in place and adequate storage facilities. He noted that the facilities currently available to the sector at Farm, East Bank Demerara are not appropriate, especially for vaccine storage.

Ramsammy said that government has pumped additional funds into the health sector this year, adding that its collaboration with international partners has resulted in the new project being realized. Among the partners he mentioned are the US PEPFAR programme , Supply Chain Management Services, the Global Fund, the World Bank and the Inter-American Development Bank.

The new warehouse would be modern in terms of how it functions, Ramsammy said, noting that the ministry is not only looking at the physical space but also the need for a computerized information system and refrigerated needs.

The Minister said too that some $4B is to be expended in the health sector on medicines and drugs this year, noting that the government will cover $2.8B of the expenses while partners in the donor community will assist with $1.5B.

Further, the Minister noted that the tender process was open and that Bassoo and Sons won the bid. He said that negotiations were recently concluded.