FIVE healthcare facilities in Guyana will be revamped as the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) seeks to protect against the ever looming threat of natural disasters while fostering good environmental practices.

“This process is an important one as we seek to ascertain ways in which we can further enhance the delivery of public health care, utilising the SMART hospital model,” Junior Minister of Health, Dr. Karen Cummings, told a gathering of residents and health professionals at the Diamond Diagnostic Centre.

This centre, along with four others: the Mabaruma Regional Hospital, the Leonora Cottage Hospital, the Lethem Regional Hospital and the Paramakatoi Health Centre, will be retrofitted into facilities that are resilient, environmentally sound and sustainable.

Zeroing on the reasons this transformation is critical, Dr. Cummings reminded of the recent threat of tropical storm, Kirk, which could have wreaked havoc on Guyana’s coastal plain. With the threat of natural disasters always imminent, Dr. Cummings said: “It is necessary that Guyana embraces this SMART hospital initiative so as to ensure that we have health facilities that can function optimally even in the aftermath of natural disasters.”

More than that, she explained that the hospitals must also be environmentally-friendly and resource efficient. This would include using renewable energy and alternative power and efficiency in the use of utilities, much in keeping with President David Granger’s green state agenda.

“SMART hospitals can arguably be seen at the intersection of medicine, information, health and business,” the minister said and highlighted that the purpose of this SMART environment is to improve existing procedures for the provision of advanced means of medical care and new opportunities for medicine.

SMART, AFFORDABLE HEALTHCARE
For her, Guyana has joined the rest of the world in improving the healthcare services offered and the country, through its Government, will not be left behind as it strives to provide smart, safe and affordable health care.

Dr Cumming also urged stakeholders to share their views on the hospital upgrades.

“Today’s consultation is designed to gain pertinent information on the way forward in transforming this facility into one that will provide excellence in clinical outcome, efficiency in operations and enhancement of patient experience.”

The SMART hospital initiative is being made possible with assistance from the Pan-American Health Organisation/ World Health Organisation (PAHO/WHO) and the British Government through the Department for International Development (DfID).

For PAHO/ WHO country representative, Dr. William Adu-Krow, “It is important and imperative for countries to adopt this SMART hospitals initiative as a national policy for risk reduction and ensure that all new hospitals are built to the level of safety and retrofit existing ones so that they continue to function during and immediately after severe natural hazard events.”

While only five facilities are currently being retrofitted, it is his hope that whatever gains and savings made will be invested into the system and local funds would be used to retrofit the others.

Adding to Adu-Krow was acting British High Commissioner Ray Davidson, who noted that making healthcare safe and environmentally sustainable, even in the event of crisis or disasters, is truly important.

He lauded the advances made since the process was initiated last year, including the site visits, designing and inspections and tendering, and said the British Government is pleased to support the progressive initiative.

“Establishing a SMART hospital strategy is more than just bringing together smart devices and applications connected to high speed network and infrastructure. Our SMART hospital strategy seeks to redefine health care processes, operational procedures and redesign the physical infrastructure to drive a new way of delivering public health care,” Dr. Cummings affirmed.