Establishing effective tele-medicine in regional health services will improve the provision of health care services.Minister within the Ministry of Public Health, Dr Karen Cummings, said there is a need to establish good communication systems among medical personnel, working in the vast hinterlandof Guyana.
“You want to ensure that they have good communication system, cell phones and so forth, in case they encounter any difficulties they can relate with their seniors so they can have correct diagnoses being made,” Dr Cummings explained.
The use of technologies in the public health sector is part of the Ministry’s projections for its advancement. Dr Cummings said there is a need for the creation and inter-linking of computerised database systems in the health sector.
This database would encourage evidence-based practices,she noted. “We definitely want to ensure that whatever we say it’s backed up by evidence, and so we want to work on that,” Dr Cummings added.
Speaking to the Government Information Agency (GINA) about the ministry’s successes and challenges one year since coming into office, Dr Cummings said the sector had a “positive” first year despite the challenges it faced.
“We have performed creditably, we have modest successes, but sustainable. We have done well as we strive to offer Guyanese the best quality of health care we can. It’s a work in progress,” Dr Cummings reflected.
Meanwhile, the minister said streamlining the procurement of drugs and medical supplies is another way to improve the public health sector’s efficiency. There is a need to move from sole sourcing to open competitive bidding for the supply of drugs and medical supplies. This has been a challenge for the ministry.
* Dr Cummings pointed out that there will be a more effective procurement process within the next six months. However, Dr Cummings cautioned there will be “teething problems” in this process. The ministry is working towards the establishment of a national procurement oversight committee which will “ensure efficiency in the acquisition and delivery of drugs to various health institutions nationwide.”
Improving patient-doctor relations
Encouraging health literacy through improved doctor/patient relations is also essential to the promotion of effective healthcare and healthy citizens.
Dr Cummings said she hopes to impress on doctors and healthcare providers, the importance of establishing good rapport with their patients. “I want our patients to be more au fait, they could able to make more informed choices about their health, but they have to be informed first,” explained Dr Cummings.
Noting that behavioural change is a process, Dr Cummings highlighted several public awareness initiatives the ministry has taken especially in relation to chronic diseases.
“We have to keep educating our patients. We have to keep working on that through our social media, our media campaigns, TV stations, infomercials and so forth,” Dr Cummings said. She added that the ministry is working with schools and workplaces in various public awareness activities.
Simultaneously, the minister said the ministry is working “to step up our use of multi-disciplinary team approach in medical services.”This initiative will be all inclusive with all the different disciplines in the ministry.
Curbing chronic, vector borne diseases
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Public Health is assiduously working to control vector borne and chronic diseases.
Seventy (70) percent of monies allocated to the Ministry of Public Health has been set aside to deal with non-communicable diseases (NCDs), including mental health.
The ministry has been advocating screening as part of its preventative measures, and the Minister reported that there has been an increase in such activity at medical centres.
Six health facilities are involved in a pilot as part of a disease and patient management initiative. They are the Leguan and Wakenaam District Hospitals, Enmore Poly Clinic, the Campbellville and Herstelling Health Centres, and the East Bank Demerara Hospital.
Surveillance and monitoring and evaluation are also very important. There will be a STEPSsurvey in collaboration with the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) to gather information on behavioural risk factors among others.
As for vector control, Dr Cummings said, “So far I think we have done very well.”
Meanwhile, Dr Cummings said that her ministry continues passive surveillance of the zika situation. In the meantime, the ministry continues with its fogging and spraying exercise along with the distribution of treated bed nets in hinterland areas, Dr Cummings said. (Government Information Agency)