IF there is any government sector that will receive my sincere commendations for consistency and performance it is the Health Sector. This does not mean that the other sectors are not performing. Of course, they are doing so in varying degrees. But the Health Sector stands out because of its ability to execute its many projects to successful conclusion. This sector, therefore, can be described as action oriented and its planners and staff are deserving of much praise.

Of course, all developmental policies would have been finalised at cabinet before the implementation process by the specific sector commences. This, I submit is the true test of the competency and skills of all the planners involve. This sector has delivered.
The health sector for any state is of pivotal importance; for it deals with the physical well-being of the nation and by extension its hopes and future development. This particular sector, for emphasis, is about people and their daily lives, a fact that the planners truly understands.
It is no secret that the National Health Sector had been in severe crisis. In fact, it could have been described as wholly primitive. But beginning properly from the late 90s, the entire state health sector began a gradual  transformation, with the following being a fact: a well organized  national HIV/AIDS programme with both foreign and significant state input that has today taken the campaign against this dreaded disease to the four corners of this nation. So much so, that there is now a decrease in the prevalence rate; the construction of a national  ophthalmological hospital at Port Mourant, reported to be the only one in the CARICOM fraternity; the construction of  four diagnostic centres, with state of the art technology. These centres have been done to relieve the patient crush at the central health facility at GPHC; the refurbishing and upgrading of many of the nation’s hospitals, including the putting up of new bed facilities to replace the old ones now being done at the GPHC; the erection of an ultra modern national laboratory at the GPHC; the recent opening of a billion-dollar  hospital at Linden  the  resuscitation of the Cuban Medical Scholarship Programme; the introduction of post – graduate medical programmes locally and an eye care degree study at the Health Sciences Department of the University of Guyana; the introduction of  both  burns  and diabetic foot units at the GPHC; a laboratory certification requirement law. Then there is an also nearly completed plan to open a department that deals with well- known chronic ailments such as hypertension. This sector has even brought the technically sophisticated open heart and kidney transplant surgeries to its affected patients. This is a service that is mainly done in collaboration with the Caribbean Heart Institute. Of course, there is a fee involved. But not as much as if patients have to access such services overseas. Appreciably, too, there has been a decrease in infant mortality rate. These are just some of the accomplishments of this sector.
As in any system, even the best managed, there will be problems. There is still the severe feature of, somewhat improved as a result of the introduction of the triage system; lengthy patient wait; and the even more disturbing  one of patient deaths as a result of the non-appearance of senior doctors and  consultants under whose guidance junior doctors must function. This is an unfair and unprofessional situation. The incidences of patients dying at state medical facilities under questionable circumstances, after reportedly simple invasive procedures, and women dying from complications as a result of maternal delivery should not occur in this age of modern medicine. It is time that such unfortunate occurrences cease. After all, the state medical institutions are accessed mostly by citizens who cannot afford the exorbitant fees exacted by the private institutions. I am aware that health care is astronomical in costs and that there is no cost recovery in the current state system. Despite this, patients deserve no less, than if he/she had sought attention at a private hospital. I have the fullest confidence that this progressive sector will remedy this particular serious negative, as well as others pertaining to the general health services, not mentioned in this letter.
But our mental health component needs a thorough overhaul. Is there a mental health programme? Are there an adequate number of mental health specialists in the health sector? For years the names of two of these doctors have been mentioned. Are these the only two, and why? One services the state system, whilst the other is in private practice and is reported to charge a high fee.  There are far too many mentally challenged patients and border line ones that need modern mental medical care. I have known persons who could have been saved from a total mental meltdown, but eventually succumbed because of inadequate relevant treatment. I would hope to see progress in this area.
Finally, I welcome the day when very serious medical cases, without recourse to GPHC, can be competently managed in the very region in which they originate.