–denies knowledge of countrywide drug shortage

PERMANENT Secretary of the Ministry of Public Health, Trevor Thomas, has cleared the air following reports of over $600M being returned to the central government by health authorities in the 10 administrative regions.He said those authorities traditionally return money so that the ministry could procure medical drugs for the various centres, but they had failed to do so in a timely manner in December 2015.

Reports had surfaced yesterday that, at the end of 2015, more than $600 million had been returned to central government by health authorities in the administrative regions, but Thomas told the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of Parliament that the report was not quite accurate.

During a telephone interview with the Guyana Chronicle yesterday, Thomas highlighted: “We are currently carrying out an assessment in the various regions, to see which region is currently lacking drugs and supplies. Given that, because of the late submission of finances by the various health authorities, we were unable to purchase the drugs in December.”

Central government, he said, had sent money by a warrant, but by the time that money arrived, the regional authorities had been unable to procure the drugs; thus the money had to be returned to central government.

He made it clear that central government had not received any report of a nationwide drug shortage, and declared that assessments are ongoing. The assessment at Region One (Barima-Waini) has been completed, and, so far, there is no shortage of drugs there, Thomas emphasised.

Thomas declined to comment on the alleged shortage of drugs and medical supplies at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) He would only say he was unaware of that, and would not be able to comment.

During the PAC meeting, it was reported in various sections of the media that officials of the GPHC had spoken of a dire crisis at the country’s premier state-run health institution, brought on by a shortage of medical supplies, with aspirin being among a list of other basic supplies.

Efforts to contact the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Alan Johnson, to confirm whether or not there was a shortage proved futile. Officials of the hospital said he was in discussion with the Budget Secretary at the Ministry of Finance.