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While it must be conceded that Guyana’s public health system has much room for improvement, it would be naïve not to acknowledge the significant improvement that has taken place over the last decade or so, especially when one considers the horrible state it was in about 20 years ago. At that time the public health system was wobbling on its knees in a state of near collapse, as there were acute shortages of medical personnel and supplies; inadequate and dilapidated medical facilities; an almost non-existent ambulance service etc.Today we boast facilities for heart surgery; kidney transplants; treatment of cancer; eye surgery; an increase in both the quality and quantity of hospitals and medical outposts. The number of doctors and medical personnel has risen sharply and as such we have almost enough at every medical institution. In this regard, we must acknowledge the excellent support that has been given by the Governments and people of Cuba and China, especially the former, who have helped us both with training and medical brigades to man our medical institutions. Plans are also in train for the establishment of a specialty hospital with financial and technical assistance from the Government of India. When this facility materialises it will not only improve the quality and standard of medical service to our people but will become the gateway for developing medical tourism, which has become a major feature in several countries including India.
In is most encouraging news that focus is on the development of the 2013-2020 Health Strategy entitled “Health Vision 2020”.
The new plan replaces the old one which concludes at the end of 2012, and envisions Guyanese as the healthiest people in the Caribbean and Latin America.
Health Minister Dr Bheri Ramsaran disclosed that the new strategic plan puts Non-Communicable Diseases on the front burner, and desires a cross-sectoral approach, including the Ministries of Education and Local Government and Regional Development.
He illustrated that the Education Ministry’s canteen policy, for instance, has some amount of input from the Health Ministry in the area of ensuring that food is prepared in a safe and healthy environment.
The Ministry of Local Government has a Health Coordinator looking over the delivery of health care in the regions. With these partnerships in mind, Minister Ramsaran is calling for stronger synergies among the ministries in order to get the best results in the overall delivery of health care in Guyana.
The minister also highlighted that it has been recognised internationally that Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) have an impact on the development of many countries; as such, much attention is being placed on this epidemic. He recalled that a few years ago, HIV/AIDS stood in the same position NCDs now stand; however, due to intense responses, the battle against HIV/AIDS has been successful; no less a result is expected with NCDs.
Collaboration among different ministries and agencies is certainly the way to go and it is most welcome to see that this approach has already been materialising. This will definitely contribute to improved delivery of health care in all communities of our country, particularly in the remote ones.
According to Permanent Secretary, Leslie Cadogan, the plan brings into focus the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by 2015. He posited that having the inputs from the regional health authorities is important, since they are the ones who engage with citizens in their respective regions.
He indicated that the Health Ministry recognises that it cannot make all the decisions, regarding the plan alone, hence the need for all stakeholders to contribute in one way or another, since they have value for the national effort.
Stakeholder participation is also important owing to the fact that the decisions being made impact the nation’s health, and in the long term, national development. Additionally, the stakeholders bring to the fore the feasibility and practicality in the implementation of the strategy.
One would hope that this strategy would place great emphasis on the conduct and attitude of medical personnel which perhaps is one of the weaker areas of our public health system.
An effective and efficient public health-care system is integrally linked to the advancement of the national economy and therefore it is good to see that tangible efforts are being undertaken to further improve the delivery of medical services to our people.
In is most encouraging news that focus is on the development of the 2013-2020 Health Strategy entitled “Health Vision 2020”.
The new plan replaces the old one which concludes at the end of 2012, and envisions Guyanese as the healthiest people in the Caribbean and Latin America.
Health Minister Dr Bheri Ramsaran disclosed that the new strategic plan puts Non-Communicable Diseases on the front burner, and desires a cross-sectoral approach, including the Ministries of Education and Local Government and Regional Development.
He illustrated that the Education Ministry’s canteen policy, for instance, has some amount of input from the Health Ministry in the area of ensuring that food is prepared in a safe and healthy environment.
The Ministry of Local Government has a Health Coordinator looking over the delivery of health care in the regions. With these partnerships in mind, Minister Ramsaran is calling for stronger synergies among the ministries in order to get the best results in the overall delivery of health care in Guyana.
The minister also highlighted that it has been recognised internationally that Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) have an impact on the development of many countries; as such, much attention is being placed on this epidemic. He recalled that a few years ago, HIV/AIDS stood in the same position NCDs now stand; however, due to intense responses, the battle against HIV/AIDS has been successful; no less a result is expected with NCDs.
Collaboration among different ministries and agencies is certainly the way to go and it is most welcome to see that this approach has already been materialising. This will definitely contribute to improved delivery of health care in all communities of our country, particularly in the remote ones.
According to Permanent Secretary, Leslie Cadogan, the plan brings into focus the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by 2015. He posited that having the inputs from the regional health authorities is important, since they are the ones who engage with citizens in their respective regions.
He indicated that the Health Ministry recognises that it cannot make all the decisions, regarding the plan alone, hence the need for all stakeholders to contribute in one way or another, since they have value for the national effort.
Stakeholder participation is also important owing to the fact that the decisions being made impact the nation’s health, and in the long term, national development. Additionally, the stakeholders bring to the fore the feasibility and practicality in the implementation of the strategy.
One would hope that this strategy would place great emphasis on the conduct and attitude of medical personnel which perhaps is one of the weaker areas of our public health system.
An effective and efficient public health-care system is integrally linked to the advancement of the national economy and therefore it is good to see that tangible efforts are being undertaken to further improve the delivery of medical services to our people.
