The Ministry of Health is discussing decentralising health services and implementing more measures to boost human resources at regional hospitals.
The semi-annual, three-day Regional Health Officers’ Conference last week convened under the theme ‘Working towards a stronger Regional Health Care System’ sought to determine and address the challenges regions are encountering in delivery health care. According to a Government Information Agency (GINA) press release one of the main issues discussed at the seminar was the availability of human resources in the regions. Minister within the Ministry Dr Ramsaran noted that government has been dispatching medical personnel to boost capacity countrywide and though some services are not available in the regions, government has a strong public/private partnership that has seen private practitioners including those specialised in anaesthesiology, providing services in areas such as Mabaruma, Region One and Lethem, Region Nine.
The minister also pointed out that the Mabaruma and Lethem hospitals were built and equipped at an approximate cost of $250M which patients have been making use of over the past few months. He also noted that the health sector has been benefiting from the skills of young Guyanese doctors who were trained in Cuba though some will have to undergo further training in specific areas at regional hospitals where they will be placed.
“We are hoping over the next few months to fashion and implement programmes which will allow our young Guyanese doctors to have skills in ultrasonography among others and this will be happening sooner rather than later, we already have in the country capacity to deliver training in these areas,” Dr Ramsaran said. The minister then challenged Regional Health Officers to think of innovative ways to improve the delivery of health services in their regions. He indicated that leaders of the health sector in other regions should ensure that their facilities are functioning and request assistance when necessary.
Additionally, Permanent Secretary at the ministry Hydar Ally told the meeting that government has been investing vast sums in the health sector, particularly in the region. “There must be optimal returns for those investments,” he said. Ally indicated that regional health services are a hub for ministry since it consumes 60% of its budgetary allocation and that officials need to strategise to increase productivity of the said services.
