…says no excuse for medicine availability below 90%
…emergency drug purchases require strict top-level approval
…hospital leaders tasked with improving patient experience, facility standards
President Dr Irfaan Ali has issued a stern warning to health sector officials that failure to comply with established procedures under a new national healthcare management system could result in their dismissal, as the Government intensifies efforts to improve healthcare delivery, accountability and patient care across Guyana. The warning was delivered during a meeting with leaders of the public health sector on Monday morning, where the President reviewed the extensive investments being made in healthcare infrastructure, pharmaceuticals, medical supplies and human resources. Addressing regional health officers, hospital administrators and other senior officials, President Ali said the purpose of the meeting was to reinforce the Government’s expectations regarding the management of resources and the delivery of services. The meeting, hosted at State House, was also attended by Health Minister Dr Frank Anthony and Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh and Public Service, Government Efficiency, and Implementation Minister, Zulfikar Ally.
“The investments we are making in healthcare are enormous investments, and investments geared at giving the people of this country the best quality of healthcare, not only in medical services but in customer care, pharmaceuticals and medical supplies,” he said. The President stressed that with the substantial resources being allocated to the health sector, there is no justification for health centres and hospitals experiencing shortages of medicines and medical supplies. “We have invested heavily in medical supplies and pharmaceuticals, and there is no reason why any health centre could not have above 90 per cent availability every single day of the year,” he stated.
New management system
Ali explained that a new management system has been established through the Materials Management Entity (MME), complete with standard operating procedures and a digital dashboard that allows health officials to monitor inventory and supply levels across the country. He made it clear that all purchases and inventory management must be conducted through the approved system. “Anybody who works outside of that system, outside of the SOPs (standard operating procedures) in that system, you will be sent home,” the President warned.
According to Ali, the system contains clearly defined procedures for emergency purchases and identifies the responsibilities of key officials, including the Director of Regional Health Services, the Chief Medical Officer and hospital administrators.
He said emergency procurement will only be permitted through a structured approval process involving the Director of Regional Health Services, the Chief Medical Officer and the head of the Materials Management Unit (MMU). In addition, a monthly review mechanism will be established involving senior Ministry officials, including the Minister of Health, the Permanent Secretary (PS), technical advisers and pharmacists, to determine whether emergency supplies are required anywhere in the health system.
“This is not only for the Ministry of Health. This is across the entire health ecosystem of the country, Georgetown Hospital and all our regional hospitals,” he said. The President noted that the new platform is already operational and training is being completed in several regions. However, from July 1, it will become the sole system used for managing medical supplies and pharmaceuticals nationwide. “On the 1st of July, every other system will be collapsed out of operation and this will be the only system in operation,” he announced. Ali also indicated that adjustments will be made in some regions, including appointments and movements involving regional health officers, while ensuring every region has dedicated information technology (IT) support staff to maintain the system. Apart from inventory management, the President said the Government’s vision for healthcare extends to improving the overall patient experience.
Clean, functional, welcoming health facilities
He stressed that hospital administrators and regional health officers are responsible not only for medical outcomes but also for ensuring that facilities are clean, functional and welcoming to patients.
“The washroom, the waiting area, the way the security handle people, the nurses, the front desk, all of these things in the system have a design to ensure patient comfort, safety and patient experience,” he said. Ali said Guyana is building a world-class healthcare system that must be measured not only by the services available but also by how patients are treated and how institutions are managed. “We are building a world-class healthcare system not only by the level of service and amount of service we offer, but also by the way we care for our patients, by the way we treat patients, by the way we manage, by our level of transparency and accountability.” The President said one of the objectives of the new management system is to minimise losses resulting from expired, damaged or excess stock. He acknowledged that certain specialised medications and supplies, such as anti-venom, may occasionally remain unused due to their nature, but said inventory management should still be conducted in a way that reduces waste and remains below industry standards for losses. He also revealed that assessments have already been conducted at health centres and medical facilities throughout the country to identify deficiencies in infrastructure and service delivery. According to Ali, officials have been instructed to ensure facilities maintain proper walkways, adequate waiting areas with seating, functional layouts and mechanisms that allow patients to raise concerns directly with administrators.
Complaints, attitudes
He pointed to systems already implemented at the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPHC) that allow patients to text complaints and concerns directly for review and action. The President said similar approaches are being considered across the wider healthcare network to strengthen accountability and responsiveness. However, Ali told health officials that the most immediate issue requiring attention is attitude and customer service. “The first issue that we deal with today is attitude. Attitude from the top all the way down to the bottom,” he said.
“Our attitude must be one that is service-oriented, one that is people-oriented. We can’t build a healthcare system that is absent of good attitude, positive attitude.”
The Government of Guyana allocated $161.1 billion to the healthcare sector in the 2026 National Budget to modernise the country’s medical system, expand infrastructure, and enhance specialised care.
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