OVER the years, the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) has been plagued by infrastructural challenges. As such, Minister of Public Health, Dr. George Norton’s vision for the GHPC is entirely focused on mending the hospital’s exhausted infrastructure to better accommodate its patients and staff. Dr. Norton’s vision was highlighted at a recent interview conducted by this publication at the Ministry of Health situated on Brickdam. In addressing the core of the problem faced at the nation’s provider of health services, Dr. Norton disclosed that the emphasis would be on refining the overall system, starting from the Administration down to its patients.
Recently, a mother was forced to endure a lengthy wait to receive treatment for her daughter, who is believed to be suffering from a heart defect. In view of this mother’s harrowing experience, Dr. Norton disclosed that his first plan would be to address this aspect of the GPHC’s operations.
In executing this, the minister noted that the rehabilitation of health centres across Guyana must firstly be realised and will ideally aid in reducing the volume of patients at the GPHC.
Studies have shown that approximately 76% of doctors are stressed due to the lack of equipment and protracted working hours at the hospital. To improve this, Dr. Norton disclosed that he aims to have a one-on-one, sit-down session with every specialist residing within the hospital to garner their inputs regarding the shortage of equipment among other issues with which they are plagued.
“We have all the support and plans in place for bettering the Georgetown Public Hospital, but it is only a question of time when we can begin executing these plans,” proclaimed the minister.
Regarding international collaboration, the GPHC is widely known for its alliances with the Vanderbilt University, Subei People’s Hospital, and the International Children’s Heart Foundation, among others. On this note, the minister disclosed that he aims to expand these alliances.
Additionally, he underscored the fact that plans are in place to attach doctors of the GHPC within the alliances, where Guyana could collaborate with world-renowned hospitals.
“We have to start making our doctors do that and I am certain when we graduate our five specialists next year, there will be a positive impact in the mortality rate in Guyana,” posited the minister.
In the final chapter of his vision for the GPHC, the minister disclosed that once the infrastructure of the hospital and health centres have been thoroughly mended, plans are in place to eliminate the “paper-work” systems in all administration and replace them with computerised systems for proper recording of the operations of the hospital.