Regional Health Authority, polyclinic among plans of Region 10 – RHO

A Regional Health Authority, the transformation of the Wiruni Health Centre into a polyclinic, the Kwakwani Hospital into a diagnostic centre and specialised treatment and care at the Linden Hospital Complex (LHC) are amongst the plans of the newly-appointed Regional Health Officer (RHO) of Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) Dr Gregory Harris.

Dr Harris, who recently began serving in this capacity, shared these and other plans during an interview with members of the media in Linden.
“Well, the first thing on my agenda that I would like to see happen is for us to have one system of healthcare governance within the Region. Currently, the Linden Hospital Complex, it’s semi-autonomous and it functions as a department within the Ministry of Health, more so the Regional Health Services Department and the RDC (Regional Democratic Council) also functions on its own – basically manages primary healthcare,” the RHO stated.
He added that due to that fragmentation and with a lot of vertical programmes from the Health Ministry, there is a bit of complication to the system in Region 10 as compared to the other regions. “For that reason, we need one healthcare system, one system of governance. And for that reason, I’m pushing for us to have the Regional Health Authority or we can have a system where the hospital can be annexed to the region (RDC),” the RHO stated.
He explained that this system of governance will have more benefits for the health system in the region as it relates to capacity building and strengthening.
“The Region (RDC), for example, has the capacity to purchase capital items while the Linden Hospital Complex lacks that capacity. Many times, they have to rely on Central Government and budgeting of funds and that would stymie or slow down the progress of the hospital to an extent. While…if you have one system through the RDC, we can actually purchase everything that is needed for smooth flow or to carry out our day to day activity of the hospital,” Dr Harris added.
He said this move would also assist with internal personnel issues and work-related issues.
“Based on experience also we have times whereby staff (are) being disciplined through the hospital, but because they’re not a staff member of the hospital…they’re employed by the RDC or the Ministry of Health it’s difficult to discipline that person, there’s no action,” he stressed, noting that a change of system would assist in bridging the gap.
“Secondly, it will help us to have a better system of referral where we can actually have the primary healthcare and the secondary healthcare working in unison where there would be a smooth flow.”
Additionally, Dr Harris noted that oftentimes, patients bypass health centres and go directly to the hospital, however, if they can function as one under the same system it would be a positive move, adding that this will also help in maintaining a constant flow of medication and medical supplies within the region.
“There are times when the regional bond drugs and medical supplies stop, while the hospital may be experiencing the difficulties…but with this one system we can eradicate that,” he conveyed.
Additionally, the RHO shared plans to build and improve or build on existing structures within the primary healthcare system. In this regard, he said he wants to look at riverine communities where it is difficult to access healthcare.
“So we want to strengthen our access, and more so (in) the Berbice River there’s the Wiruni Health Centre. There’s a new structure that we built there…what I would like to see happening there is to develop what you call a polyclinic…that would be like the central point for the Berbice River,” Dr Harris related.
He further shared his hopes to have storage for supplies and vaccines at the location to eliminate persons having to travel over long distances to central locations at Linden.
In addition, the RHO said he is trying to have major health centres such as the One Mile Health Centre in Linden developed into polyclinics to offer more services such as X-rays, ultrasound and ECG which he noted are currently lacking. Once achieved, he said these clinics can also conduct specialised clinics and laboratory services. According to Dr Harris, a  few of the laboratory services will be rolled out before the year is out while the others will be looked at in the 2021 Budget. He noted too that services such as ultrasounds and X-rays can create a path for the training of technicians and create more employment.
The RHO further shared his vision for the LHC to mainly offer specialised services and to function as a level 4A hospital (emergency, general and specialised operations).
Plans are also in the pipeline to develop the Kwakwani Hospital into a diagnostic centre where services such as surgeries and ultrasounds can be conducted.
Further, Dr Harris related plans for the Upper Demerara Hospital (UDH) at Wismar, Linden, to remain as an infectious hospital.