EQUIPPING and upgrading district hospitals to deliver the full suite of mandated services will take priority in 2017 — a move which the Government views as reducing the deficit in reach between the hinterland and coastland.

The move will be covered by the $31.2B allocated for the Health Sector in next year’s budget. This sum translates to 12.5 per cent of the 2017 budget which was presented to the National Assembly on Monday by Finance Minister Winston Jordan.

Drawing from the 2016 budget, Government expects to spend over $27B or 12 per cent of that year’s budget on the health sector.
Jordan, in providing a breakdown of allocations, noted that a sum of $2B has been allocated for the improvement and maintenance of health infrastructure countrywide.

He said that emphasis will be placed on upgrading health facilities for district level hospitals and comfortable living quarters, to attract the necessary medical personnel in the hinterland. Several areas targeted include Baramita, Bartica, Kamarang, Mahdia, Port Kaituma, and Annai.

In addition, he said that specialists, skilled professionals in the areas of paediatrics, internal medicine, obstetrics and gynaecology, dental, and general surgery, will be deployed in Regions One, Eight and Nine.

According to Jordan, the Government continues to prioritise the health and well-being of the people as a pillar for ensuring economic development, happiness, productivity, and prosperity.

He said that the national health sector strategy – the Health Vision 2020 – continues to guide investments and interventions in the sector, with the ultimate aim of achieving universal coverage for health care.
He noted, however, that one cannot plan to achieve this vision without an efficient, modern health system, with adequate human capacity and quality health infrastructure.

“We must address these core issues which hamper our ability to address serious health challenges, such as the proliferation of non-communicable diseases, mental health, and emerging diseases such as Zika,” Jordan said.

He told the National Assembly that investment in health infrastructure and the ability to attract skilled health human resources are critical for delivering specialist health services, especially in remote hinterland communities.

Last year, the Ministry of Public Health expended $48.4M on medical evacuation services, called “medevac”, for 93 cases that were unable to be treated in the respective administrative regions. Such cases were referred to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC).

Next year a sum of $110M will be expended for the Food and Drug Analyst Department, for the construction of a new laboratory and administrative building.

In addition, $65M will be used to procure laboratory supplies, quality control aids, and proficiency testing materials.

Minister Jordan said that progress is being made by the Analyst Food and Drugs Department to gain accreditation for its laboratories, those which certify food product manufacturers, exporters, and re-packagers.

Minister Jordan said Government will launch a National Integrated Solid Waste Management Strategy in 2017, and it will focus on maintaining a cleaner environment and providing better public health protection.

To carry out its mandate, a sum of $338M was allocated for the design and construction of new sanitary landfill sites in Bartica and Linden.

In addition, landfill sites at Belle Vue, Lusignan, Lethem, and Mabaruma will be upgraded, while a new temporary holding area at the Haags Bosch Sanitary Landfill will be created.

In addition, a sum of $150M has been set aside for the Community Organised for Restoring the Environment (CORE) programme, which will employ 20 small community groups throughout the country to undertake upgrading, refurbishment, rehabilitation, and beautification of the immediate and contiguous areas of public works sites.

The aim of the programme is to maintain the aesthetics of communities.