“No need to go anywhere; we will deliver” – Pres Ali to healthcare workers

…reiterates call for strictest standards, accountability for actions

As the Guyana Government works to enhance the local healthcare system, President Dr Irfaan Ali has reassured workers in this field of better working environments and living conditions in the future.
The Head of State made this pledge while delivering the feature address at the sod-turning ceremony of the country’s first Specialised Paediatric and Maternal Hospital at Goedverwagting, East Coast Demerara, on Sunday.
President Ali pointed out that tilling the soil and constructing the buildings is just one component of the transformation that Government is undertaking in the health sector. He explained that the other component, which is the hardest part, is making the system work. This, he noted, requires human resources so that the system can be in top shape.
To this end, the Guyanese leader assured healthcare workers that they will be taken care of in this new system that his Government is building.
“Trust the vision. Hold on to this vision. There is no need for you to go anywhere. We are going to deliver to you the best environment and the best total package for you to live a good and healthy life. There is absolutely no backing down in having the best possible system to support human resource growth, their welfare and advancement.”
In the same breath, however, President Ali declared that healthcare workers will be held accountable in return for their every action.
“You will be held to the strictest standards. You will be held accountable for every single action. You must deliver also to the best of our capability because we are not building the second best, we are building the best here in Guyana.”

Developing
Meanwhile, the Head of State went on to outline that the standard that Guyana is developing with the establishment of infrastructure such as the new specialised hospital for at-risk women and children will position the country to attract traffic from within the Caribbean region.
“You would have heard me saying that whatever we are developing is for regional prosperity. So, our cardiac centre, our centre to deal with cancer, our centre to deal with research and development are all positioned with standards and infrastructure that will make it the ‘want to go to destination’ in terms of regional traffic.”
According to the Guyanese President, his Government is also targeting opportunities in the wider diaspora. He explained that his Administration will engage the Governments of the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom – which are homes some large Guyanese diaspora – to integrate their healthcare plan into the services that Guyana will be offering in the future when these facilities become available.
“[We want to see] how we can support the diaspora? Even with the monthly medical benefits and the subsidy that they receive from their Government, if we can provide [those medical services] at a cheaper cost, then it can be a bilateral relationship that shares health and education services beyond the shores.”
Another important initiative on the table, according to President Ali, is the integration of services offered by care homes and elderly homes. He pointed out that Guyana already has better year-round weather that would suit the elder population in these facilities.

“So, it is building out a healthcare model that is focusing not only locally but focusing on the region and focusing on the diaspora. We want to also bring together all the private stakeholders in dentistry… We are working now in terms of building out a system that will support all of this infrastructure and a system that will be strongly integrated.”
Moreover, the Head of State disclosed that medical universities and teaching hospitals will also play a big role in Guyana’s future healthcare system. In fact, he noted that some of these projects are already on stream.
“I’m already talking to Dr Anthony to see what amendments are required for stem cells because we want to be at the cutting edge of medical technology. Whatever legislation needs to be done, we will do the consultation, get all those legislation in and pass all the laws because the aim is to put Guyana at the cutting edge of health delivery, health education, the scientific part of it, research and development.”
Only last month, the Guyana Government signed a historic partnership deal with New York-based Mount Sinai Health System and Hess Corporation to transform local healthcare into a world class service that will not only ensure accessibility and affordability for Guyanese citizens but also the Caribbean region.
Under this agreement, President Ali rolled out the National Health Care Initiative – a three component plan that focuses on enhancing the country’s primary healthcare services, improving patient care and management at the Georgetown Public Hospital and developing specialised services in cardiology and oncology with the private sector. This includes the establishment of two centres of excellence – a cardiovascular centre and an oncology centre.
The Head of State has already charged the private sector in the local medical field to step up and tap into the opportunities that this project will make available.
This National Health Care Initiative is being funded jointly by Guyana and Hess Corporation, which has injected some US$32 million into the project.
Meanwhile, in addition to receiving help from Mount Sinai through this, Government was also able to secure a facility for all Guyanese requiring specialised medical treatment to get a 30 per cent discount once the Health Ministry approves a referral to the NY-based medical institution.