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Region Eight spends only 10% of 2016 Health Budget
Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) and Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) are the only
Minister of Communities, Ronald Bulkan
regions that utilized their entire budgetary allocations for the year 2016. Region 10 was given $141.5M and Region Six was handed $394.5M. On the other hand, Region Eight
(Potaro-Siparuni) only used up 10 percent of its budget. Region Eight was allocated $30.7M but used only $2.9M. This information was mad known to the National Assembly.
Minister of Communities, Ronald Bulkan was asked a few questions for written reply by People’s Progressive Party/Civic Member of Parliament Juan Edghill.
Bulkan was asked what percentage of the total budgeted regional health allocations were expended on purchases of Drugs and Medical Supplies for each of the 10 Administrative Regions between January 2016 and February 26, 2017.
The Minister’s response only covered the year 2016. He indicated that Region One (Barima-Waini) spent 94 percent of its $80.9M budget while Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) spent 80 percent of its $176M budget. Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara) was among the regions with the higher budgetary allocations securing $339.6M. The region only spent 38 percent of that sum.
Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica) spent 94 percent of its $590M budget. Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice) spent 52 percent of its $156M budget. Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) spent $95 percent of its $64M Budget and Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) spent 86 percent of its $74M budget.
Another issue that came out in the answers given by Bulkan had to do with procurement.
PPP MP Juan Edghill
Regal Stationery and Computer Centre, Corporate Supplies, Health International, LJ Shopping Zone, Mayfil Greene Variety Store, International Pharmaceutical Agency, CMSD Enterprise, Rite Care Pharmacy were some of the places that Region 10 bought drugs from. Region 10 sent over $11.5M at these entities which Edghill referred to as “corner shop pharmacies”.
Minister Bulkan was asked the names of suppliers who may have failed to deliver within the stipulated contractual period and by what amount? Bulkan said that, “All regions reported that this was not applicable to them.”
Edghill asked for the name of suppliers who may have delivered inferior or substandard drugs and medical supplies, but again it was pointed out that, “all regions reported that this was not applicable to them.”
Bulkan said that all regions indicated the drug to sum expended was delivered. All outstanding sums were returned to the consolidated fund, small amounts were returned by the Regions and the bulk was returned by the Ministry of Public Health.
Bulkan indicated that the procurement of Drugs and Medical supplies were not advertised in Barima-Waini to Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo Regions as they were purchased on an emergency basis or as needs arose. He said that the Upper Demerara-Berbice Region indicated that procurement for drugs and medical supplies were publicly advertised in the month of February 2016 in the newspapers (Guyana Chronicle and Stabroek News). Bulkan reported that no prequalification was done.
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