Health care is one of the most important components in people’s lives and therefore its importance cannot be over emphasised. In society, people are worried about the kinds of systems there are, to deal with issues of health. In developed countries, their systems are designed to cater for all people; whether poor or rich. However, the systems are lacking with regard to flaws. In developing countries, people usually take care of health as an individual thing and, if you do not have enough money, you might not get access to quality care. There are so many disparities and, some systems in certain countries are becoming worse; not able to deal with the demands of health. Health is not a cheap affair. You have to have a good system if you want it to work for you. Governments have the responsibility to create or formulate policies that will favour people in this regard. Good systems of health can be erected by the top most leadership of a state.

Here in Guyana we have seen tremendous improvements in all aspects of health care. We have seen a significant increase in the number of health facilities across the country, particularly in rural and hinterland communities. But more importantly, we have witnessed an appreciable rise in the quality of health care through an increased number of doctors and auxiliary medical personnel, as well as the provision of speciliased services which were unavailable for decades. Several years ago, for instance, our first ever heart surgery was successfully executed.
Unfortunately, the establishment of a specialty hospital has been delayed because of the political opposition’s budgetary cuts. However, it is hoped that good sense would prevail and this pivotal project would be able to go ahead, as it would open a whole host of new opportunities such as paving the way for the development of medical tourism, which is one of the fastest growing sub-sectors of the tourism industry.
According to David Morgan in an article in the Observer, the number of people travelling abroad to seek medical treatment appears to have been growing in recent years. This could be part of a growing global trend.
He adds: “Thailand is popular with tourists for its exotic beaches and breathtaking temples. Now this “Asian tiger” is luring another kind of tourist: patients. The Thai Investment Board reports that Thailand treated over one million foreign patients in 2006. More than just mishappen holidaymakers, these patients were part of an expanding global trade in medical tourism which the board valued at US$40 billion worldwide and with global growth potential of some 20% per year. Some estimates go higher still. A 2008 report by the Deloitte Center for Health Solutions, estimated that the value of the world medical tourism market in 2008 was around $60 billion, and they expected double digit growth rates in the years ahead. And while a follow up report in 2009 suggested that the recession would slow this growth–a trend which recent reports from Thailand appear to echo–it still forecast that the number of US outbound medical tourists would reach 1.6 million by 2012.”
So the establishment of the specialty hospital, apart from providing specialised surgeries to our people, would enable us to become part of the global medical tourism market.
However, while we undoubtedly have made significant progress in health care, there are some difficulties which we need to urgently address and President Donald Ramotar recently alluded to one of them in a very frank manner-shortage of medical drugs in our hospitals.
The President noted that billions of dollars are expended on the purchase of drugs, but yet there are shortages and at the same time large volumes are dumped because they have expired, resulting in wastage of millions of dollars every year which could have been used in other sectors to help improve the lives of our people.
The Head of State is indeed correct and he should now move swiftly to unearth the cause of this serious problem and take the necessary corrective measures, because such a situation is untenable and totally unacceptable.