THAT the health, education and water sectors respectively, in Guyana, attract the most budgetary outlays annually is an incontestable fact; and this is in keeping with the PPP/C government’s policy of providing quality services to the nation’s people. In fact, it would be remiss not to reiterate the fact, that these three sectors particularly, are central to any nation’s socio-economic development, inclusive of Guyana.

Let it be emphasised that no state administration invests billions, as is the case with Guyana, for the sake of political window dressing; nor for incompetent service to be rendered to the intended beneficiaries.
The nation’s health sector comes second in its attraction of exponential budgetary sums for the past 10 years, as the government seeks to modernise a most important social service from its servile, prostate and primitive position, as had been the case, prior to 1992. It is no secret, that today the nation’s health-delivery services are a thousand times improved from what had been its former status.
Guyana now boasts several new hospitals throughout its coastal belt, and in areas where there were previously none; diagnostic centres, strategically placed so as to relieve the central state facility of the daily crush of visitors; the Caribbean’s only eye hospital; A National Heart institute; a cancer treatment centre; a special Burn Unit, with one for diabetic ulcers, as well; a triage system that determines the urgency of receiving medical attention; a separate surgical unit with the Maternal bloc for Caesarean cases and a multi-billion dollar laboratory service that is one of the most advanced among the Caricom membership. Not to mention, also, the numerous medical training interventions for all categories of health personnel, designed with the best interests of the nation in mind.
Therefore, it is always a matter of grave concern whenever a patient’s death is reported, especially in circumstances that question the quality of health care. Frankly, there have been too many of these occurrences that ought not to be, since the significant expenditures made, has been done to minimise and in the end, eliminate such incidents.
It is good to observe the Ministry of Health, instituting almost total changes in key areas of management at the West Demerara Hospital in light of the death of a young teen recently. This is in recognition of the fact that such a health-delivery system must be managed in a timely and competent manner, two factors that are inherent in the treatment and survivability of every patient.
But condign action must also be taken against personnel, when negligence has been proven.