– Minister Norton
PUBLIC Health Minister Dr. George Norton in responding to a recent letter in the Stabroek News titled: “There is a shortage of HIV testing kits in Guyana,” said with the assistance of the Pan-American Health Organisation/World Health Organisation (PAHO/WHO), the ministry made efforts to buy kits from a particular agent.He told the Government Information Agency (GINA) that “Cabinet has approved of such, and we are in the process of actually receiving them.”
Minister Norton is assuring persons that there are enough kits to last until the ministry receives the items.
He further noted that the system of acquiring these items has changed, and that there will no longer be sole-sourcing, where one company was given 100% payment upfront for procurement of drugs. The intention is to create a level playing field for the procurement of drugs and the distribution of medical supplies and pharmaceuticals, through competitive bidding.
“That is going to take some time before it kicks in, but in the meantime, measures are in place for those shortages that appear,” Minister Norton reiterated.