New, upgraded facilities will get adequate staff – Health Minister assures

With plans already rolling to upgrade and add new regional hospitals to the current complement, Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony has assured that these facilities will be supported with adequate human resources and equipment.
A few weeks ago, contracts were signed for six new regional facilities to be built at Anna Regina in Region Two; De Kinderen in Region Three; Diamond and Enmore in Region Four; Bath in Region Five, and Skeldon in Region Six. A Paediatric and Maternal Hospital is also in the works at Ogle.
Within the next years, the Health Minister said Guyanese can expect more such projects to come on stream.
“The Government is now upgrading a number of facilities and we are going to upgrade regional facilities. In that upgrade, it is not just about the physical hospital itself, but also the equipment that we have and ensuring we have adequate staff to manage these facilities. Over the next three to four years, you would see that happen,” he outlined on Tuesday.
In the coming year, the National Budget will also provide for additional facilities and equipment. The Health Minister, however, highlighted that such undertakings require significant funding.
“These things take time. It takes a lot of investment to make sure we’re comparable with other countries and this Government is committed to doing so. That is why the Government has placed so much emphasis on health.”
Over the years, the Ministry has enhanced the number of ultrasound equipment in the facilities, as well as switched to digital X-ray machines. Efforts are being made to have CT scans readily available. The Ministry is currently working with several partners to develop a strategy as it relates to medical imaging.
“Imaging in this country was basically X-rays. Even with the X-rays, the quality was not as good. We have pivot from analogue X-rays to now digital X-rays. Now, we are going to make sure that CT scans are readily available…We are also in the process of procuring MRIs so you would see a total change in terms of medical imaging,” he pointed out.
The Health Minister clarified that since his Administration took office in 2020, equipment have been replaced and added to several health facilities across the country. In instances such as the Linden Hospital Complex, four biochemistry analysers are active when compared to zero two years ago.
“In distributing health assets, we have worked very hard to make sure that all our regional hospitals can have all the necessary equipment so that we can perform whatever test imaging or operation that is necessary for patients’ safety.” (G12)