2019 National budget… Health sector’s allocation to eliminate drugs shortage, emergency purchases – Minister Jordan -New A&E facility and state-of-the-art trauma centre on the horizon

Nov 28, 2018 News

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A person who is prescribed treatment at a public health facility should not have to resort to a private pharmacy to procure medication. Finance Minister, Mr. Winston Jordan, when he delivered a marathon budget speech on Monday in the National Assembly, said the $300.7B national budget will cater to the affairs of the country in 2019.
The budgetary allocation for the health sector, the Minister said, will help Government put systems in place to strengthen procurement planning and ensure cost-effective purchases of drugs, in order to eliminate shortages and emergency purchases.
Government, for 2019, has allocated $35.9 B for the health sector. Within this allocation, Jordan said that a sum of $3.2 billion is for the construction, rehabilitation and maintenance of health infrastructure across the country and another $7.8 billion will be used to procure drugs and medical supplies.

“The availability of drugs and medical supplies continues to be of concern to the Administration.”
In the coming year, too, Minister Jordan said that the Government will be advancing the improvement of its health infrastructure to strengthen and complement its delivery and expansion of services.
“We will aim to complete the construction of the Kingston bond and the upgrading of the bond in Diamond, to facilitate effective storage and distribution of drugs and medical supplies.”
He noted that provision has been made to commence construction of a new laboratory for the Food and Drug Analyst Department that will improve government’s capacity to certify relevant imports and exports.
With regards to regional facilities, he said that the Port Kaituma Hospital Complex is also anticipated to be completed. It will serve as an additional district hospital for Region One. Additionally, in order to reduce the number of referrals “we would be strengthening our workforce across the country; however, this requires investment in appropriate living facilities for, and incomes of, our health professionals, especially those serving in hinterland, remote and riverain areas.”
He said that in 2019, too, efforts will be trained on the construction of living quarters in key areas such as Kamarang, Kaikan, Lethem, Wiruni, Mabaruma, Leguan and Mabura. Also, Government will examine the issue of allowances for health workers, Jordan shared.
The Finance Minister divulged that that Government will be seeking to make a significant improvement to the national referral hospital – Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation – as the construction of a new accident and emergency facility can no longer be delayed.
He disclosed that discussions have commenced with interested development partners to build a modern, state-of-the-art trauma centre that will allow for better managed emergency cases, including addressing patient flow, isolation and capacity.
This development will materialise even as the disease profile of Guyana shows that non-communicable diseases [NCDs] remain the biggest public health challenge, Minister Jordan noted.
The data indicate that NCDs, such as diabetes and hypertension, are on the rise. These can also cause further complications, and even death, if left unchecked and untreated.
“There is a reason why NCDs are referred to as ‘silent killers‘. We must all recognise that a large contributor to this issue is our lifestyle, including lack of exercise, poor food choices and inadequate medical check-ups,” said Minister Jordan.
He noted that while the Government will continue to expand its public awareness and education programmes, screening and treatment, “the decision is ours to make in terms of lifestyle choices.
“This year we have taken initial steps to incentivise at-risk individuals to make healthier choices by increasing the taxes and duties on cigarettes, thereby discouraging their use.”
Recent trends in NCDs, Minister Jordan said, warrant additional efforts, in 2019. With regard to tuberculosis [TB], there has been a noted increase in incidence of the multi-drug resistant strain of this disease. In response, the Minister said that Government will be revitalising its DOTs programme, to ensure adequate detection, treatment and monitoring.
The Minister also disclosed that the incidence of HIV appears to be rising, with the 20 – 29 age cohort showing the highest incidence – 32 percent of all newly reported cases – in 2017.
“Similar to NCDs, this disease also relies on our lifestyle choices, specifically, our decision to use protection, commit to continuous testing and diligently follow treatment prescribed. The Government will continue its public awareness, surveillance and follow up programmes.
“We have committed to the international 90/90/90 Treat All Policy towards the eradication of HIV,” Minister Jordan quipped.
It is a fact that Guyana’s geography can make service delivery difficult and, according to Minister Jordan, the health sector is no exception. He said, “We have prioritised improving our maternal and child health [MCH] programme, with two new maternal waiting homes to be constructed in Moruca and Long Creek, and the refurbishing of the one, in Lethem, in 2019.”
“We will undertake capacity building of the MCH Unit and procure related equipment, amongst other initiatives. Within the realm of life cycle health management, we have recently formalised the establishment of a men‘s health unit and an elderly health unit, both of which will aim to promote targeted interventions for their respective groups. Overall, we have budgeted about $1.6 billion for family health care services, in 2019,” the Finance Minister added.
Essentially, the Finance Minister said that Government is aiming to empower the population while at the same time seeking to build sustainable communities on the foundation of a healthy population.
“We will continue to invest resources in the health sector to ensure that the public healthcare system is maintained and upgraded, in order to deliver adequate and efficient care to improve the quality of life of all Guyanese,” assured Minister Jordan.
He noted that the allocations for the health sector in 2019 will translate to 11.9 percent of the national budget, $2.6 billion above the 2018 allocation, and 4.3 percent of the Gross Domestic Product [GDP].

 

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