Of all the social sectors in any state, that of health constitutes the most

critical service to citizens, since it offers a specific  intervention that pertains to the physical and mental well being of  the nation’s peoples.
Therefore, it is peculiar in its daily functions because of its comprehensive spread and responsibility for ensuring the delivery of not merely health care, but that which is effective enough to ensure national health. As would be expected, it will attract the most scrutiny and, of course, criticism.
Guyana’s current state health system can be described as very unique, taking into consideration what it had represented prior to 1992. It is well documented that by that time, health infrastructure had deteriorated to such an abysmal condition, that it was described by a visiting Guyanese nurse as ‘primitive’.
Most of its infrastructure had disappeared during the years of PNC rule. To be precise, this sector and its services were not allocated much budgetary resources. Therefore, the important necessity   of expansion of services, never took place in a manner that should have carried much needed services to the further reaches of the local population.
Infant mortality levels were high, apart from the fact there were few opportunities for advanced medical training for medical personnel. It was a system that could be described as becoming stagnant, and imploded.
One will concede though, that at that time, many persons were trained as doctors and other positions of medical expertise. But most of these either departed for other opportunities and advancement elsewhere, before completion of their contractual obligations; or immediately after. Who would want to function within a medical system that was not being modernised?
Fast forward 20 years after, and one will be able to appreciate the magnitude of the changes that have transformed the nation’s state health services.
The fact that the national health sector receives  the second largest  allocation of budgetary resources, explains the administration’s profound understanding that a nation’s  health is wholly dependent upon the presence of  modern infrastructure, staffed by highly trained personnel who can deliver quality health care; and that this apart from education is central to any national transformative programme.
This explains why there are now four state-of-the art diagnostic centres at strategic points along the coastland, designed to take the pressure away from the central Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC); newly built hospitals at Lethem, Linden, and Mabaruma; refurbished, and newly built  clinics throughout the 10 administrative regions; a multi-billion-dollar renewal of the central  GPHC still in progress, but which so far includes a new laboratory, a 400 bed in-patient facility, a surgical facility in the maternal ward, treatment centres for cancer, burns, and diabetic  foot patients. There is also a cardiac centre where invasive cardiac surgeries are now performed.
These newly introduced facilities are coupled with the introduction of graduate specialist programmes that include obstetrics and gynaecology; paediatrics, orthopaedics, and internal medicine – interventions that are a daily need for patient administration and care.
Of course, there are still problems that surround patients’ waiting time, and the worrying issue of maternal patients dying. The latter has been engaging the attention of a cabinet sub-committee and other experts in seeking to eliminate this unfortunate occurrence, where avoidable.
However, notwithstanding these and other hitches, health sector managers continue to implement measures to improve the existing systems for better quality of health care delivery. One would have noted the introduction of new treatment regimens, and advanced medical training. No doubt these have been introduced for an expanded treatment access by the public, especially those who, because of financial reasons, cannot seek such at private institutions.
All across the globe, medical treatment for patients has become expensive and even beyond their means. It is even the view of some medical practitioners that there is no such thing as free medicine. Be that as it may, Guyana is one of the few countries where the government has made improved health care for its citizens a practical reality, through exponential investments. Despite the many challenges, Guyanese are now benefiting from the many modern medical pathways on offer.