WORKS had commenced on the Specialty Hospital at Turkeyen, East Coast Demerara, but the contract with Surrendra Engineering had to be terminated and the US Government is now advocating construction of another facility like the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GHPC).

Minister of State in the Ministry of the Presidency, Joseph Harmon on Wednesday confirmed that the government is looking to scrap the project and to put the money secured for it towards improving the healthcare sector countrywide.

Harmon made the disclosure even as one of the new Government’s closest international allies, the United States, voiced support for the construction of another GPHC-type facility in lieu of the scrapped Specialty Hospital project.

The suggestion came from US Representative to Guyana, Charge d’Affaires Bryan Hunt who on Wednesday last met with Health Minister Dr. George Norton at the minister’s office on Brickdam when the issue of the Specialty Hospital was raised.

Harmon, during a simultaneous post-Cabinet press briefing, had indicated to media operatives that Government’s intention was to engage the Indian Government to utilize the US$14M remaining under the Line of Credit (LoC) that had been arranged for the construction of the Specialty Hospital.

Meanwhile, Hunt, during his meeting with Dr. Norton, suggested that constructing another public hospital on the same spot would solve the space constraints issue at the current GPHC. However, several million dollars have already been expended on site preparation at Turkeyen.

According to Hunt, “If not build another GPHC, the money should be used to develop the current one, because there are visible and non-visible issues which could be addressed by the Ministry of Health and further, the Government of Guyana…as well as the development of the Regional Health System among other areas which are even more important than building a specialty hospital.”
US SUPPORT
He also suggested that the Government should spend more time developing the primary health system which is in dire need of assistance, and assured Minister Norton that the US will continue to support Guyana in their move towards development of the health sector.

Dr. Norton had indicated to the US Diplomatic Representative that Government would be launching an investigation into construction of the Specialty Hospital by the former administration.

When asked about the future of the project, the Minister of Public Health told the US Representative that, “before we make any rash decisions as it relates to the Specialty Hospital we will first have to launch an investigation into the project so as to have an idea of what has taken place so far, and whether or not it would be right to move forward on a project such as this…given the fact that the past administration did not provide much and adequate feedback on the proceedings of the project.”

He alluded to the fact also that the company that was in charge of the construction of the hospital, Surendra Engineering Company, has a track record of being unreliable regarding contract projects.
PRIMARY HEALTH SYSTEM
Apart from the investigation into the actual construction, the Minister pointed out that, instead of building a specialty hospital which is not necessarily needed in Guyana, the administration would rather invest their efforts into improving the primary healthcare system which is in dire need of development.

Before moving their focus to that, they would be better off improving the GPHC and the local community healthcare centers, which would prove to be more efficient and beneficial to citizens, Dr. Norton added.

He disclosed too that there will be a departure from the plans of the previous administration as it relates to staffing the medical facilities. According to the Public Health Minister, the previous government had announced that Guyanese doctors would be trained at the Specialty Hospital, while they planned on importing specialists from India which would have been a costly exercise.
“This is so because the recruiting of doctors, in particular specially-trained physicians, comes with a hefty price, not forgetting the cost of equipment and the setting up of the operating rooms and the various wards.”
FOCUS ON GPHC
Dr Norton said, “instead of investing in that, they could change their focus towards the GPHC where there is a shortage of beds and inadequate spacing, or develop the various health centers so that persons can access the ones in their communities instead of having to travel to Georgetown.”

He said too, “The Cancer Institute for example which is located at the GPHC has to be expanded as this is something that would be of more value than the establishment of a specialty hospital because it provides radiotherapy and chemotherapy right there,” he emphasised.

In that light, Minister Norton asserted that instead of investing in the Specialty Hospital which would prove to be very hard to sustain, they would rather embark on other ventures that would be sustainable and beneficial to the citizens instead.