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GUYANESE will lose significantly if the hospital slated to be built at Liliendaal, to provide a range of specialised health care services to citizens is halted. As such Health Minister Dr Bheri Ramsaran is hopeful that good reason will prevail and the Opposition would fully support this transformational project. The specialty hospital is one of several transformational projects in Guyana. It would allow Guyanese to benefit from health services that they are now spending huge sums to access overseas. Guyana, like many other countries is affected by Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) which include cardiovascular diseases (heart diseases), and therefore more and more would require specialised services.
Dr. Ramsaran, in an interview with the Government Information Agency (GINA) yesterday, discussed the impact on the Guyanese population of not having the specialty hospital, even as he alluded to high-profile persons’ ‘flirt with death’ due to cardiac events.
“The arguments against it (the specialty hospital) are spurious…the Opposition love to hate this project, I think that they hate this project and they want to hate it because of some old bitterness…they classify this, not as a transformational project, but as a Jagdeo project. This is an extension of that bitterness and hate on the part, specifically, of such people as Members of Parliament Moses Nagamootoo and Khemraj Ramjattan,” he pointed out.
Minister Ramsaran emphasised that the intent to take away an opportunity for the Guyanese people to have services that are needed and are available in other countries, will force citizens to seek them overseas.
In some cases, like a cardiac event for instance, missing that critical hour can result in death or suffering from the consequences that are life-long and dangerous to one’s health and well-being. While the Caribbean Heart Institute is functional, is doing good work and is benefiting from upgrades, the Minister noted that the facility has out-grown itself in that there is the issue of space.
Dr. Ramsaran stressed that the selection for the site is in recognition of the need for adequate space, and over time, extensions to the facility can be facilitated to provide additional services.
In relation to the cost of services that will be provided at the specialty hospital, the minister noted that discussions are currently on-going to determine health financing and how the private sector can be involved.
Minister Ramsaran indicated that some Caribbean countries have already recognised the need for health care as part of their tourism package, and Guyana cannot be left behind, not only for the local population, but for the Diaspora, thereby making Guyana more attractive as a destination.
He explained that the new hospital will be a centre of excellence and will not only attract Guyanese living in Guyana but those living overseas as well, and it will also have an impact on the cost of health care.
“We suspect that the cost of surgeries or other interventions for these diseases are by far, more in countries like the United States of America whereas in countries like India it is significantly less. That is why, until now, a significant number of our cardiac patients especially pediatric patients go to India through the support of certain NGOs and government,” he emphasised.
Further, it is hoped that the realisation of the hospital will be an impetus for the promotion of health tourism whereby Guyanese from overseas will come and enjoy health care in the comfort of their homeland, and at a more affordable cost.
Dr. Ramsaran, in an interview with the Government Information Agency (GINA) yesterday, discussed the impact on the Guyanese population of not having the specialty hospital, even as he alluded to high-profile persons’ ‘flirt with death’ due to cardiac events.
“The arguments against it (the specialty hospital) are spurious…the Opposition love to hate this project, I think that they hate this project and they want to hate it because of some old bitterness…they classify this, not as a transformational project, but as a Jagdeo project. This is an extension of that bitterness and hate on the part, specifically, of such people as Members of Parliament Moses Nagamootoo and Khemraj Ramjattan,” he pointed out.
Minister Ramsaran emphasised that the intent to take away an opportunity for the Guyanese people to have services that are needed and are available in other countries, will force citizens to seek them overseas.
In some cases, like a cardiac event for instance, missing that critical hour can result in death or suffering from the consequences that are life-long and dangerous to one’s health and well-being. While the Caribbean Heart Institute is functional, is doing good work and is benefiting from upgrades, the Minister noted that the facility has out-grown itself in that there is the issue of space.
Dr. Ramsaran stressed that the selection for the site is in recognition of the need for adequate space, and over time, extensions to the facility can be facilitated to provide additional services.
In relation to the cost of services that will be provided at the specialty hospital, the minister noted that discussions are currently on-going to determine health financing and how the private sector can be involved.
Minister Ramsaran indicated that some Caribbean countries have already recognised the need for health care as part of their tourism package, and Guyana cannot be left behind, not only for the local population, but for the Diaspora, thereby making Guyana more attractive as a destination.
He explained that the new hospital will be a centre of excellence and will not only attract Guyanese living in Guyana but those living overseas as well, and it will also have an impact on the cost of health care.
“We suspect that the cost of surgeries or other interventions for these diseases are by far, more in countries like the United States of America whereas in countries like India it is significantly less. That is why, until now, a significant number of our cardiac patients especially pediatric patients go to India through the support of certain NGOs and government,” he emphasised.
Further, it is hoped that the realisation of the hospital will be an impetus for the promotion of health tourism whereby Guyanese from overseas will come and enjoy health care in the comfort of their homeland, and at a more affordable cost.
