Latest update December 28th, 2024 2:40 AM

Guyana's largest selling daily and New York's most popular weekly

Latest News

GPHC to buy new $26 million heart ultrasound machine

Oct 14, 2023 News

Kaieteur News – The Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), the country’s main referral hospital is set to benefit from a new $26 million Cardiac Ultrasound System for its Echocardiology Laboratory.

This is according to the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB) which revealed on its website that following the national competitive bidding process, they have awarded the US$134,634 ($26M) contract to Salus Medical Inc. to supply and commission the ultrasound system at the GPHC.

Kaieteur News understands that Salus Medical Inc. is a local medical distribution company which was officially launched in April 2022.

The new cardiac ultrasound system is set to boost GPHC’s Echocardiology Lab capacity after authorities had discovered that there was a backlog of echocardiogram being done at the hospital.

In August, Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo at a press conference stated that due to the backlog of ultrasounds and the echocardiogram; President Irfaan Ali and other Government officials convened with the operators of the private hospitals to arrange for them to be paid to clear the backlog of the tests.

An echocardiogram, or “echo”, for persons unfamiliar with the term is a scan used to look at the heart and nearby blood vessels. An echo is a type of ultrasound scan.

“So we discovered over 2000 backlog of ultrasound and the echocardiogram that is about several hundred nearly a thousand of those backlogs at the GPHC (Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation),” Jagdeo had said.

It was stated that a meeting was held at State House, where officials from hospitals including St. Joseph Mercy, Woodlands, Balwant Singh, Sheriff, and Davis Memorial met with President Ali, and Minister of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony.

Jagdeo added, “And we decided that they will help us clear the backlog, by paying them to clear the backlog.”

According to the Vice President, the hospitals were charging $6,000 to $8,000 for an ultrasound, and $12-$15,000 for an echo. However, he noted that through negotiations, the hospitals agreed to charge $4000 and $6000 each to clear backlog of the ultrasound and echo, respectively.

“And that has allowed us now to clear a lot of the backlog, they had extra capacity, because we care about the people and we did it with all the hospitals so that we can clear up the backlog for people there,” Jagdeo added.

Notably, he had also shared that the Government is slated to buy three machines to do the echocardiogram.

Similar Articles

The Glenn Lall Show | December, 2nd, 2024

Follow on Tik Tok @Glennlall

THE BLUNT OF THE DAY

Sports

Kanaimas, Lady Royal chalk up first wins in K&S National Futsal C/ship Women’s leg

Kanaimas, Lady Royal chalk up first wins in K&S National Futsal...

Dec 28, 2024

Sparta Boss, Road Warriors, Back Circle, Bent Street move to semis Kaieteur Sports- All the winners on the quarter-final night did so in fantastic style, none scoring less than 5 goals in marching...
Read More
Beckham James wins feature C1 and lower event as Kennard Memorial Turf Club Boxing Day Horse race meet was successfully staged

Beckham James wins feature C1 and lower event as...

Dec 28, 2024

Dharry to face Colombian Randy Ramirez tonight as boxing returns to CASH

Dharry to face Colombian Randy Ramirez tonight as...

Dec 28, 2024

Windies women falter as India secure 3-0 ODI series sweep

Windies women falter as India secure 3-0 ODI...

Dec 28, 2024

From Hinterland to Brazil: Krammer cops 3-month training stint at Academia Real Brazil

From Hinterland to Brazil: Krammer cops 3-month...

Dec 28, 2024

Milerock, Capital FC, Winners Connection and Botafago secure semifinal berths

Milerock, Capital FC, Winners Connection and...

Dec 28, 2024

Features/Columnists

Publisher’s Note

Freedom of speech is our core value at Kaieteur News. If the letter/e-mail you sent was not published, and you believe that its contents were not libellous, let us know, please contact us by phone or email.

Feel free to send us your comments and/or criticisms.
Contact: 624-6456; 225-8452; 225-8458; 225-8463; 225-8465; 225-8473 or 225-8491.
Or by Email: [email protected] / [email protected]

Weekend Cartoon

Bridge Watch

Demerara Harbour Bridge

> Berbice Bridge […]