The move, which was highlighted in GuySuCo’s turnaround plan last year, was met with opposition from the Guyana Agricultural Workers Union (GAWU).
Minister within the Ministry of Health Dr Bheri Ramsarran, speaking at a press conference yesterday, stated that the government has been “quietly” working since early last year, in collaboration with the unions representing sugar workers and GuySuCo to “absorb” the medical services of the sugar corporation and plans are already underway to have the De Kinderen health centre resourced with additional medical staff, including local Cuban-trained doctors and resident doctors.
He said the authorities have already taken control of the De Kinderen health centre and upgrading of the facility will see full services being provided by the centre in contrast to “the limited services” offered by the sugar corporation in the past. Ramsarran stated that the authorities have created capacity in the upper floor of the facility, which serves some 300 pensioners in the area, to accommodate five to six doctors. Ramsarran noted that the Leonora Cottage Hospital as well as the West Demerara Regional Hospital will benefit from the move in future.
It is unclear whether GAWU has changed its position on the issue and attempts by Stabroek News to reach officials on the issue yesterday were unsuccessful.
When questioned on the reason behind the move yesterday, Ramsarran stated that the sugar corporation has the sugar industry and the economy to focus on and according to him de-linking of non-core activity under GuySuCo’s mandate was the underlining factor. He said the move is meant to increase the services offered by the sugar corporation rather than a reduction and according to him it will be without jeopardy to the unions. He said that he fully supports the unions and the interest of sugar workers as he explained the scenario. “It is being done without prejudice to GuySuCo staff,” he reiterated.
As regards financing under the venture, Ramsarran stated that GuySuCo has provided a list of costing which is being discussed between the authorities and officials of the corporation.
GAWU viewed the plan when it was announced last year as a major concern and its president Komal Chand told Stabroek News last November that if it was not resolved in favour of workers, industrial action is likely. He said at the time that GAWU vehemently opposed the transfer of the health services to the state because of “the tremendous negative impact this would have.” According to Chand, workers in the industry oppose any move to have these services handed over to the government because of concerns that have been raised about the delivery of public health care services across the country. “The union is still in discussion with the corporation and we hope this particular suggestion is never implemented. There are just too many people who will be affected. Both the union and the workers realise how problematic this proposal is and we strongly oppose it,” Chand added.
In its turnaround plan GuySuCo, stated that its health services were expected to be taken over by the Health Ministry by the end of last year and among the factors highlighted by the corporation was that it spends approximately $360 million annually on the provision of health services, which includes diagnostic centres at Ogle (Head Office) and Rose Hall and 15 dispensaries countrywide (excluding the DeKinderen dispensary). In the plan, the corporation noted that medical services are provided to at least 4,000 retired persons, workers, their immediate family members, pensioners, and emergency cases in the community. Currently, the plan stated, the medical service consists of 6 doctors, 12 medexes, 1 dispenser and 21 nurses/nurse aides and according to Ramsarran these numbers will be boosted by additional trained staff.
GuySuCo stated in the plan that efforts are being made to negotiate the takeover of the services by the Ministry of Health because “the medical services are provided to a significant number of persons outside of the existing GuySuCo staff.” These facilities can be integrated into the National Health System. Taking into consideration the expansion of the National Health System by the GoG, it will avoid duplication of services,” it added.
Meanwhile, the services offered by the Diamond Diagnostic Centre on the East Bank of Demerara is expected to be upgraded and this move by the authorities stemmed from a recent accident in the area in which Diamond resident Romona Harris met her demise following a hit-and-run accident, staff of the hospital being partly blamed in the issue. Ramsarran stated that the incident, to which he voiced disappointment yesterday, was used as ‘the reason to look at the wider picture’ surrounding examining and upgrading the services offered by the institution since there were several shortfalls which existed at the institution.
Among the measures made to improve the services offered by the medical institution is the recruitment and placement of 6 to 10 nurses at the institution and 4 nurses have already been shortlisted to complement the staff at the hospital within the next few days. The services offered by the pharmaceutical department of the hospital is also being addressed by the Health Ministry with the addition of several Cuban trained Guyanese pharmacy assistants and the extension of the opening hours of the pharmacy beyond 4pm as well as on holidays.
Ramsarran stated too that the West Demerara Regional Hospital has seen some upgrading in recent months with the refurbishing of the hospital’s main operating theatre as well as a section of the wards among other improvements made to the facility.
