HEALTH Minister Dr. Bheri Ramsaran, in defending the allocation for Specialty Hospital highlighted the ignorance of opposition members of the parliamentary process and the work of the administration during a recent recording of the programme Under the Microscope aired on TVG.

The Specialty Hospital is one of the sector’s 2013 measures that has been under focus by the opposition. The minster explained that the project is done on a line of credit from the Indian government, “which means those monies are not under the purview only of the Ministry of Finance of Guyana and under the Ministry of Health of Guyana. It is supervised in a particular fashion.”
A Partnership for Unity (APNU) Member of Parliament, Annette Ferguson during her budget presentation had made specific reference to the US$18M project, where it was reported that pre-construction work were being carried out for preparation for the site, but to date, Fergusson said there has been no evidence of this work.
She questioned why more funds were being allocated towards the same effort. Dr Ramsaran explained that of the initial $97M that was allocated for the site development only a section of the money went to the contractor Bovell Construction Company which is doing the site development.
He pointed out that Bovell was given about $27.1 M which is the agreed upon percentage of the voted provision for him to mobilise. He said that the land preparation is more or less in advanced stages, but the ministry has been having some difficulties with the completion of the phase, but talks are ongoing with the contractor in this regard.
“We are working with him…so the money that he would draw down would not reflect what we see there if he did not put out the work he cannot be paid for them,” he pointed out.
The design for the hospital was awarded to an Indian Company, Surendra Engineering which is currently engaged in the geo-technical testing to establish the foundation footprint for the building. The ministry itself has been consulting with the Ministry of Public Works with regards to constructing an appropriate roadway leading to the facility.
He observed that Ms. Ferguson particularly was misled and misleading in her comments in the National Assembly similar to what AFC MP Moses Nagamootoo did when he also misled and misrepresented the issue last year.
Dr Ramsaran pointed out the geotechnical work was completed about two weeks ago, and the contracting company is the process of analysing the data before work starts on the actual design.
This Specialty Hospital is intended to provide the services needed to fully take care of persons who need special medical care which once had to be sourced outside of Guyana. These include cardiac interventions and other specialised surgical operations. Whilst some training has begun, it is hoped that 500 doctors would be available by the time the facility is completed.
Dr Ramsaran in analysing the opposition’s proposal to cut the National Budget and the allocation to the Health Sector said that the debates have highlighted the fact that many of the MPs from the opposition side are ignorant of the process, especially many from the APNU side.
He also pointed out that in spite of the caustic and misguided comments by the opposition; the administration has been receiving generally positive feedback regarding the measures contained in the budget. The minister said that the opposition is opposing the Budget for the sake of opposing.
Meanwhile, Dr Ramsaran, who is preparing to face the National Assembly on Tuesday, to answer questions about the allocations of monies to various projects said he is not fearful about the intensity of the questions that may be asked of him and his officers.
He explained that since no skullduggery was afoot and there was nothing to fear as the process over the years has proven to be above board and transparent. Additionally, the health minister is not willing to sacrifice quality for price. He said that the Government of Guyana would not compromise on the delivery of quality health-care with the use of legitimate products and well recognised and recommended health-care for the sake of anyone.
Dr Ramsaran said meeting international standards was extremely important as he pointed out the increasing problems that counterfeit medical supplies and pharmaceuticals were creating, especially as governments across the world move to intensify their fight against malaria, non-communicable diseases and other threats to good health.
The minister has also stated that companies bidding for health contracts must not only “bid for bidding sake”, they must think about their ability to deliver, the lives at stake, the necessary requirements as per the bidding documents and the other standards that the Health Ministry will not compromise on.
This year, $19.2 billion has been allocated to the health sector to ensure the delivery of several goods and services. The allocation represents nine per cent of the $208.8 billion budget presented by Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh to the Parliament.