–President Ali says Guyana poised to be world-class medical destination

AS Guyana continues to field multiple investment interests across various sectors, healthcare is not being left behind. President Dr. Irfaan Ali said on Friday that a group from the United States is among several others that are interested in developing a world-class private healthcare system here.

More specifically, he noted that the US-based group has proposed to plug some US$250 million (more than G$51.9 billion) into the tertiary healthcare sector.

In his remarks at the recommissioning ceremony for the ‘SMART’ Lethem hospital, President Ali said that while his government remains committed to the continued development of the public healthcare system, it will also support private institutions in their bid to flourish, thereby enhancing the country’s economy. “Healthcare is an investment arm,” Dr. Ali emphasised.

He said that currently, two local healthcare providers are engaging their global partners on the possibility of merging resources to develop new, state-of-the art medical facilities that will offer all types of healthcare services.

The president also spoke of an interest from both the British and Austrian Governments in relation to building hospitals that specialise in paediatric and maternal care. A similar project is also being formalised by the Central Islamic Organisation of Guyana (CIOG) and its partners.

Added to that, Dr. Ali said that there are at least six other proposals from the business community to develop private healthcare facilities that are fit enough to propel Guyana as a world-class private healthcare destination.

“We want to build a healthcare system that is part of our economy; that is, it will be part of health tourism, and it will be part of an international structure that will provide health services globally,” the President said.

He noted, too, that in an effort to encourage investments in that direction, private healthcare providers will receive a number of incentives within the next four years. The Head of State went further to recognise that with the incoming investments, coupled with his government’s bid to expand and enhance public healthcare at all levels, there will be a strain on the country’s human resource capacity. “We already have shortages,” Dr. Ali noted.

To address these personnel needs, a comprehensive training strategy is being developed. This, according to the president, will see young people being recruited and trained to fulfil the needs of not only the health sector, but education as well. “We are starting with those two [sectors],” Dr. Ali noted.

“You can start planning your career, because we are going to make the investment to ensure that your career, and that the path that you’re taking is fulfilling,” Dr. Ali assured.

Further, with Guyana poised for massive transformation and modernisation across all sectors, the President said that country will have to “train more [professionals] than we need.”

He added, “Remember, we have to deal with primary healthcare and secondary healthcare, and then we will do an evaluation as to where the gaps are.”

Importantly, Dr. Ali said that a specially designed programme will come on stream for skilled persons to become formally trained, so that they, too, can play a key role in developing the health sector and the services offered locally.

“We are also aware that the healthcare system is not only about healthcare; it is [also] about your welfare,” Dr. Ali said.

He acknowledged that more has to be done to ensure that nurses, doctors and other healthcare professionals are treated better, and that their needs are met. “That is another part of the programme that we are focusing on,” the president assured.