$12M spent on patients’ EKG & Ultrasounds by Reg. 4 Health Services Department
RESIDENTS in Region Four, who have had to do abdominal ultrasounds and
Electrocardiograms (EKG), have been breathing a sigh of relief for the past four months. This is because the Regional Health Service Department within Region
Four have paid for these services at a cost of $5000 for the abdominal ultrasound and $2,500 for the EKG.

Regional Health Officer (RHO), Dr. Quincy Jones, noted that government’s commitment to the continued enhancement of health care remains paramount. He pointed out that there continues to be increases in the region’s budget despite the population remaining the same. He declared that this is certainly a testimony of government’s determination to increasing health care access for all.

“The steady rise in the region’s health budget amidst a relatively stable population and improvements in key health outcome measures such as maternal and under-five mortality rates, over the years, is indicative of government commitment towards the financial sustainability of the region’s health sector,” Dr. Jones said.

Dr. Jones also highlighted the critical importance of the facility that residents can access these tests. He noted that it is significantly helping persons who are financially unable to foot the cost privately.

“Health care service provision by the private sector is mainly through out-of- pocket payment at point of use and is centred around the provision of specialized services, though some primary care services are provided as well.”

The RHO praised the work of the medical staff at the health centres noting that Buxton had conducted some 1531 ultrasounds in four months. He pointed out that with several dedicated and devoted health care professionals in the region, continued growth and enhancement within the region is certainly evident, another gain of the region. Dr. Jones said.

The Regional Health Officer urged residents to maximize these two major health services, stressing that it is there for residents while adding that some years ago people could have only wished to have these. “Let us not take the numerous opportunities and gains that we have today for granted as many of the wishes we had years are now today’s reality.”
Dr. Jones further said that his department is very elated over the significant monies that residents are able to save, stressing that as they continue to advance health care development, residents within Region Four can certainly look forward to more new and innovative services.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Health Financing is the “function of a health system concerned with the mobilization, accumulation and allocation of money to cover the health needs of the people, individually and collectively, in the health system” (WHO 2000).

Dr Jones disclosed that a good financing system raises funds and structures financial incentives to guarantee that all people have access to quality public health and personal healthcare services. “Per capita health expenditure (amount of resources spent on health per person) can be used to infer whether health spending is enough to achieve appropriate healthcare quality and access.”