ANY government that invests heavily on social programmes as part of its overall national development programme, is one that understands the imperatives of what constitutes national development, particularly its benefits, which must satisfy the needs of citizens, thereby improving the quality of their daily lives. This has been a national strategy that has been a continuous and constant focus of the PPP/C administration, since assuming the responsibility of government in 1992. 

Surely, Guyanese have been familiar with the multi-billion programmes since 1993, on re-building the State’s health infrastructure that had not only become primitive by the historic juncture of October 1992, but one which infrastructure had collapsed in many places, and non-existent in others. The multi-billions spent on the numerous interventions thus far, points to a deliberate strategy of ensuring a transformed and modern State health care system capable of delivering the highest quality of health care services and assistance to those citizens in need.
It explains why diagnostic centres have been built; hospitals refurbished, and new hospitals and health centres located in areas where there were none, prior; an ophthalmological hospital; an ultra-modern laboratory; the training of more medical practitioners for staffing hospitals; post-graduate medical programmes for doctors, as well as advance training programmes for allied medical staff; new medical departments that house new capabilities and services, such as dialysis, kidney transplant, cardiac intervention, cancer treatment, diabetic foot, and burns, just to name the many initiatives that have gone towards ensuring the medical needs of the nation.
These initiatives have not been undertaken by the government because for reasons of grandiosity, but because of a genuine desire of wanting a healthier nation, which citizens are better able to contribute to nation building, while contributing to their personal and respective families material and moral development.
It is against this background, that President Donald Ramotar’s recently made strong, and forthright statements about aspects of the State’s health system must be seen. Since his ascension to the Presidency, this is perhaps his frankest observation and assessment made on any state sector, with the very tone signaling that he is dis-satisfied with aspects of a critical pillar that affects citizens’ wellbeing.
For the kind of exponential dollar investment made in this sector, the second highest of the national budget, patients ought not to be complaining about not being able to obtain medicines, as well as the media having to report about incidences of expiry drugs. This points to a question of management as the President underlined.
Nor did the sad and painful issue of maternal deaths escape his critical examination and analysis. In fact, these occurrences have been editorialized in this media, and we fully agree with the view by the President that the deaths of women constitute a severe loss to the national development process. Yet, they continue to occur.
It must be emphasized that any state health sector has to be properly managed, for the huge responsibilities that is its undertaking, in terms of financial resources and material, coupled with the most important raison d’etre for its existence – the citizens who access its services. Further, with its main business being providing curative measures for the sick, whether in or out-patients, its systems must all times be properly geared for this daily challenge. This includes time spent waiting for medical attention; proper diagnosis and relevant treatment/prescription of medicines; competent management if admitted as a patient; ensuring proper convalescing measures are instituted, particulary post-surgical procedures, right down to being certified as proper for discharge.
Given that pharmaceuticals are extremely expensive, accurate care must be taken in terms of an analysis of demand, and amount required, factors that are determined based on analysis of patient illness trends. It is therefore, unacceptable for any level of expired medicines, and a serious indictment of the sector, when such instances cause patients not to be prescribed treatment. This is inevitably a great financial loss to the government, which must not be tolerated. In fact, managers must be held accountable for this travesty.
Even the doctors were highlighted for their role in a sector, in which they are the key managers. Definitely, too many doctors are more concerned as to who they are, than as to what they can do for those who seek their help and expertise. Of course, there are very competent physicians, who are also caring and compassionate, attributes that are very critical in the recuperative process. But there are those whose negative attitudes impact on their patients.
It is time that doctors comprehend their true role as doing all that is medically possible in bring relief to patients, and not be dismissive when the latter voiced their concerns.
After all, it is only fair that those charged with the important responsibility of administration of the State health system, be cognizant of the fact that with such a huge budgetary allocation for their sector, quality services are to be delivered to the public, guided by the best management practices.