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MINISTER of Health, Dr. Bheri Ramsaran has said that a good deal of the troubles experienced in the sector regarding its storage and management of drugs have been rectified with the coming on stream of the commissioned multi-million-dollar, state-of-the-art warehouse. He was, at the time, being interrogated by members of the Opposition in the Committee of Supply in the National Assembly, on Wednesday, about estimates for the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) and the Ministry.
The monies were all approved except for the $1.2 billion that was voted against by the combined Opposition for the Specialty Hospital at Liliendaal, East Coast Demerara, in this year’s work plan.
Ramsaran, responding to questions posed by Alliance For Change (AFC) Leader Khemraj Ramjattan, indicated that the purchase of drugs, with the $1.8 billion set aside for the purpose this year, will be done using a competitive process as had been the case in past years.
Regarding the storage of drugs, the Minister told the House that would be done in the Ministry’s warehouse located at Diamond, East Bank Demerara, where there will be better management.
In response to a query about the possession following the purchase of drugs, Ramsaran said despite the fact that the previous bond used belonged to the New Guyana Pharmaceutical Corporation, it remained in the custody of the Ministry.
He assured Members of Parliament (MPs) that the new bond at Diamond “will have the capacity to accommodate the entire stock purchased.”
LOSSES REMOVED
That, along with other measures, such as treatment guidelines and revised ordering patterns by doctors will see the ministry’s drug losses removed, Ramsaran posited.
He pointed out that much of the problems that existed in the sector, which he inherited, had to do with management.
MP Carl Greenidge, from A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), also enquired about the payment arrangements for drugs and requested the contract documents be made available.
The questioner told the House he was advised that payments were made for drugs up front, which Ramsaran confirmed, stating that making advances on purchases is nothing new or irregular and does not deviate from any other arrangements with other suppliers.
“Competitors are also subjected to similar conditions,” he said.
MP Veerasammy Ramaya, also from AFC, enquired of the Minister what measures would be in place to deal with losses regarding expired drugs.
Ramsaran replied that, with the new bond now in place, the Ministry would be able to better effect a ‘first in/first out’ system to better manage its drug chain, thereby eliminating massive losses from drugs expiration while in its possession.
On the matter of disposal, he advised the House that this is dealt with by the Food and Drug Administration.
EXPIRED DRUGS
Ramsaran said, in the past when expired drugs were identified, they are handed over to the authority, under whose remit that function falls.
With respect to the Capital Expenditure for the hospital, other APNU MP, Dr. George Norton sought clarification about the proposed $108M rehabilitation planned for this year.
Ramsaran answered that it is specifically geared at targeting the vexed issue of capacity at the institution and would eradicate instances of two persons utilising one bed and, this year, additional wards will be constructed.
The minister disclosed that when two wards, namely a ‘Male Medical’ and a ‘Surgical’ are built, there would be a significant increase in bedding capacity at the GPH.
Ramsaran rejected assertions by Norton that, among other extremes, a roof at the complex was “falling in.”
The minister said, although there is “some housekeeping to be done” it was unfair of the APNU Member to paint such a “bleak picture” of the hospital.
Ramsaran was also grilled over the $95M allocation for the purchase of new equipment and he informed that it included for a portable x-ray machine, as there is, currently, only one at the hospital amidst a growing demand for the use of that piece of equipment, simultaneously, in different sections of the hospital.
He revealed, too, that other planned purchases include anaesthetic machines as well as several more apparatus meant to replace outdated ones still in use.
Alluding to questions on increases in the provision for the purchase of field materials, Ramsaran told the House that the ministry would be looking to acquire a number of treated mosquito nets for distribution in Regions affected by malaria, such as Cuyuni/Mazaruni.
The monies were all approved except for the $1.2 billion that was voted against by the combined Opposition for the Specialty Hospital at Liliendaal, East Coast Demerara, in this year’s work plan.
Ramsaran, responding to questions posed by Alliance For Change (AFC) Leader Khemraj Ramjattan, indicated that the purchase of drugs, with the $1.8 billion set aside for the purpose this year, will be done using a competitive process as had been the case in past years.
Regarding the storage of drugs, the Minister told the House that would be done in the Ministry’s warehouse located at Diamond, East Bank Demerara, where there will be better management.
In response to a query about the possession following the purchase of drugs, Ramsaran said despite the fact that the previous bond used belonged to the New Guyana Pharmaceutical Corporation, it remained in the custody of the Ministry.
He assured Members of Parliament (MPs) that the new bond at Diamond “will have the capacity to accommodate the entire stock purchased.”
LOSSES REMOVED
That, along with other measures, such as treatment guidelines and revised ordering patterns by doctors will see the ministry’s drug losses removed, Ramsaran posited.
He pointed out that much of the problems that existed in the sector, which he inherited, had to do with management.
MP Carl Greenidge, from A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), also enquired about the payment arrangements for drugs and requested the contract documents be made available.
The questioner told the House he was advised that payments were made for drugs up front, which Ramsaran confirmed, stating that making advances on purchases is nothing new or irregular and does not deviate from any other arrangements with other suppliers.
“Competitors are also subjected to similar conditions,” he said.
MP Veerasammy Ramaya, also from AFC, enquired of the Minister what measures would be in place to deal with losses regarding expired drugs.
Ramsaran replied that, with the new bond now in place, the Ministry would be able to better effect a ‘first in/first out’ system to better manage its drug chain, thereby eliminating massive losses from drugs expiration while in its possession.
On the matter of disposal, he advised the House that this is dealt with by the Food and Drug Administration.
EXPIRED DRUGS
Ramsaran said, in the past when expired drugs were identified, they are handed over to the authority, under whose remit that function falls.
With respect to the Capital Expenditure for the hospital, other APNU MP, Dr. George Norton sought clarification about the proposed $108M rehabilitation planned for this year.
Ramsaran answered that it is specifically geared at targeting the vexed issue of capacity at the institution and would eradicate instances of two persons utilising one bed and, this year, additional wards will be constructed.
The minister disclosed that when two wards, namely a ‘Male Medical’ and a ‘Surgical’ are built, there would be a significant increase in bedding capacity at the GPH.
Ramsaran rejected assertions by Norton that, among other extremes, a roof at the complex was “falling in.”
The minister said, although there is “some housekeeping to be done” it was unfair of the APNU Member to paint such a “bleak picture” of the hospital.
Ramsaran was also grilled over the $95M allocation for the purchase of new equipment and he informed that it included for a portable x-ray machine, as there is, currently, only one at the hospital amidst a growing demand for the use of that piece of equipment, simultaneously, in different sections of the hospital.
He revealed, too, that other planned purchases include anaesthetic machines as well as several more apparatus meant to replace outdated ones still in use.
Alluding to questions on increases in the provision for the purchase of field materials, Ramsaran told the House that the ministry would be looking to acquire a number of treated mosquito nets for distribution in Regions affected by malaria, such as Cuyuni/Mazaruni.
