GUYANA is one of few countries to offer a package of guaranteed health services at care delivery sites and Chief Medical Officer (CMO), Dr. Shamdeo Persaud said it assists the Ministry with allocation of resources. He explained that, with this concept, the Ministry is able to determine the number of workers and equipment needed, the level of training required and exactly what medical supplies have to be deployed and where.
“We started off by looking at labs and x-rays but the idea expanded to include maternal and child health services; for adolescents, young adults and the adult population as well as to address chronic, communicable and non-communicable diseases.
“It has provision for accidents and emergencies, elderly care, environmental health and sanitation and others that see us delivering services at the level of the health facility,” Persaud outlined.
He said the basis for the development of the package is defined against the five levels of health care, level one being the posts in communities.
The CMO noted that, with the package, different measures will be in place to ensure that people are aware of what is available at specific sites.
“We hope to get the information published and people would be able to know exactly what kind of health services they would be able to access at specific levels,” Persaud said.
He noted, too, that, at the District Hospital level, Guyanese would be made aware of, for example, what kinds of admissions and surgical procedures would be done.
Persaud said the service agreements that the Health Ministry has with the different regions are tied into the services.
“The agreements would aid in ensuring that the funds allocated to the regions for health are spent where necessary, rather than the region taking the money and spending it as they wish. The regions will be able to respond to their own needs in the context of the Health Ministry’s strategic plan,” he said.
Persaud said, in addition to the service agreements, the Regional Health Officers (RHOs) are required to present reports on a quarterly basis.
“Every now and then, they are tasked with the job of going to the health facilities, pulling up charts and even speaking to patients. These are clinical audits that ensure the standards,”he said.
Persaud said the audits are done according to the category of health care services and in 2010 they will take into account emergency and surgical as well as chronic diseases.
“The overall aim is the improvement of health standard. A lot of money is being invested in health and we want to ensure that every dollar spent is spent well,” he stated.
Persaud lauded the development of the system and said, with it, at present one can be more confident of the data that is being reported.
“We have addressed areas where there were inaccuracies and have developed time proven and tested methods,” he assured.