Non-functioning equipment, drug shortage mar health delivery in Region 6 – Minister

Non-functioning equipment and massive drug shortage have marred healthcare delivery in Region Six (East Berbice/
Corentyne). This is according to Health Minister Dr Frank Anthony who, along with a team from the Ministry, visited the region on Tuesday as part of a familiarisation exercise.
The team included acting Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Dr Narine Singh and Secretary General for Regional Health Services, Dr Vishwa Mahadeo. Also accompanying the minister were Regional Chairman David Armogan and Regional Health Officer Dr Vishalya Sharma. The team visited the Skeldon, Port Mourant and New Amsterdam hospitals during the visit.
At the Skeldon Hospital, the minister observed that there is still a lot to be done to provide what he described as “acceptable health care” to residents of the region.
“For example, they don’t have an operating theatre, and we have to see what we can do to fix that. Here are also other pieces of equipment that we think if they get soon…would enhance the quality of service that they are able to provide,” Dr Anthony told the media during Tuesday’s tour.
According to the minister, discussions were held with officials at the Skeldon Hospital with the aim of acquiring the needed equipment. One of the main areas of critical importance is the maternity sections.
“I also spoke with the Chairman of the Region, and we will see how we can put some measures in place to acquire some of these things,” the minister said.
The Health Minister noted that at both the Skeldon and Port Mourant Hospitals there were shortages of various types of medication. However, Minister Anthony is hopeful that those shortages issue will be adequately addressed before the end of the week.
Currently, the Health Ministry is procuring $3.2B worth of medication, he noted, pointing out that as soon as the supplies arrive, distribution will be made to the hospitals in Region Six.
“This is an urgent procurement, not just for Region Six, but all the regions within the country. We also have challenges with reagents and the laboratory equipment that we normally have, so we had to also do some urgent procurement of reagents, and also to give the providers of those equipment some servicing contracts,” Dr Anthony pointed out.
On the positive said, Dr Anthony said he was pleased to know that at both New Amsterdam and Skeldon, the laboratories were able to conduct basic laboratory tests.
The team also looked at the possibility of improving some sections of the Port Mourant Hospital. The National Ophthalmology Hospital there is key on that list.
The main theatres at the National Ophthalmology Hospital are currently non-functional. This, the health minister said, is so because the microscopes are dysfunctional.
“And there are a whole host of other things that are not working there. So, if we are going to get that facility up and running, we have some equipment issues that we have to resolve, and also some staffing issues,” Dr Anthony noted.
The National Ophthalmology Hospital is currently able to undertake small surgeries, but for more complex surgeries, the equipment has to be fixed.
“What we are looking at is how do we prioritise and get them to do the things that can be done now, as we work to get the other pieces of equipment in, so as to get them to expand the services that they can offer?”
A report coming from a Commission of Inquiry into the operations of the New Amsterdam Hospital had found that the CT scan which has been at the Hospital for more than two years is yet to be put into operation, and the X-ray Department was also not working. The report from the Commission, which was recently handed over to the Minister, also sighted several other issues at the New Amsterdam Hospital.
Minister Anthony also met with the management of the New Amsterdam Hospital to strategised a course forward. (Andrew Carmichael)