The Master Plan is in the Master’s Head

Jan 12, 2024 Features / Columnists, Peeping Tom

---

Kaieteur News – At a press conference held yesterday, Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo failed to address a crucial aspect of his government’s ambitious plan to construct 12 new hospitals – the lack of clarity on whether any comprehensive studies were conducted to justify such a significant undertaking.

Instead of presenting a well-reasoned argument, Jagdeo offered an absurd rationale, claiming that the government aimed to expand primary health care to make it more accessible. However, his understanding of primary health care seems to be flawed. Primary healthcare forms the foundation of the healthcare system, emphasizing preventive and basic healthcare services. It is often the first point of contact between individuals and the healthcare system, delivered by general practitioners, family physicians, and community health workers.

Primary care focuses on promoting overall health and well-being, preventing diseases, and managing common health issues. Services provided at this level include routine check-ups, vaccination, health education, and the management of common illnesses. The emphasis on early detection and intervention makes primary healthcare crucial in maintaining the health of the population.

Secondary healthcare involves specialized services that are more complex than those offered at the primary level. It typically includes services provided by medical specialists and facilities like hospitals. Secondary care is characterized by the diagnosis and treatment of specific medical conditions, often requiring specialized knowledge and technology. Commonly, patients are referred to secondary care by primary care providers for more in-depth assessments, consultations, and interventions. Examples of secondary care services include surgery, diagnostic imaging, and specialized medical consultations. This level of care acts as a bridge between primary care and the highly specialized, intensive care provided at the tertiary level.

Tertiary healthcare represents the highest level of medical care, primarily focused on managing complex and rare health conditions. This level involves highly specialized medical practitioners, advanced medical technology, and specialized facilities such as academic medical centers and research hospitals. Tertiary care often includes specialized surgeries, and comprehensive treatment plans for severe and uncommon illnesses. Patients usually access tertiary care through referrals from primary and secondary care providers when facing complex or challenging health issues that require specialized expertise and resources.

Based upon the explanation offered by the government, seven of the hospitals to be established will offer more than primary health services; they will also aim at offering secondary and some tertiary health care services such as cardiology services. If the PPPC government were genuinely committed to expanding primary health care, the focus would be on bolstering community health clinics, establishing poly clinics, and enhancing overall community health services. Building massive hospitals is an incongruous approach to achieving this goal. On the other hand, if the government’s objective is to ensure greater equity in healthcare delivery, then the emphasis should be on making the same services available across all regions. However, the construction of new hospitals is not necessarily the solution. Existing hospitals could be upgraded to accommodate the required services.

In fact, an agreement with the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) has already been signed to finance upgrades for seven hospitals, including four in the hinterland, along with the Linden, New Amsterdam, and Georgetown Hospitals. This project is intended to expand healthcare equity by providing diagnostic exams and medical consultations to more than half of the population. It also includes infrastructural upgrades and the introduction of telehealth services in over 15 health centers.

The lack of a clear rationale and the absence of information about the master plan raise concerns about the wisdom of constructing 12 new hospitals. However, regardless of the conceptual confusion surrounding the government’s decision, building hospitals requires proper studies. A comprehensive study would help determine the specific type of hospital that is needed, the range of services to be offered at each and the required number of beds to meet the healthcare demands of the population. Vice President Jagdeo remains elusive on the question of whether any studies were conducted to justify these projects. The opacity surrounding the decision-making process raises doubts, and there is a growing suspicion that these projects might be undertaken simply because the government has funds to expend. Jagdeo mentions a “Master Plan for Health,” but this plan seems to be one of the best-guarded secrets within the Ministry of Health. It has neither been made public nor tabled in the National Assembly. Perhaps there is a plan, as Jagdeo insists. But if it exists, it appears to be confined to the Master’s Head, where so many decisions seem to reside.

(The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions and beliefs of this newspaper and its affiliates.)

---

• argument, Both President Irfaan Ali and Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo, General, Peeping Tom, Vice President

---