THE Ministry of Health has rejected claims that its CORTEX digital health system was designed to collect banking information from doctors, describing the allegation as unverified and a misrepresentation of the system’s purpose.
The Ministry, in a statement responding to recent remarks by Opposition Member of Parliament Ganesh Mahipaul, said CORTEX forms part of its broader digital transformation programme aimed at strengthening accountability and efficiency throughout the pharmaceutical supply chain.
The system is designed to support processes ranging from pharmaceutical procurement and inventory management to distribution and the dispensing of medication to patients, the Ministry said.
It also operates within a wider digital health environment that includes the ongoing implementation of electronic patient records and other digital tools intended to improve healthcare delivery.
Addressing concerns about the information being requested from healthcare professionals, the Ministry said doctors and other authorised personnel must be properly identified and verified before being granted access to the digital systems.
According to the Ministry, healthcare professionals were informed of the information required, the reasons for requesting it and how the information would be used.
It said the submission and verification of professional credentials are safeguards intended to promote accountability, ensure appropriate access controls and protect sensitive patient information.
The Ministry specifically rejected the suggestion that CORTEX was designed to collect doctors’ banking information as part of its health-sector functions.
“If any doctor believes that banking information was requested through CORTEX for an unexplained or unauthorised purpose, the Ministry encourages that individual to provide the specific request so that it can be immediately reviewed and verified,” the statement said.
The Ministry added that, to date, no evidence had been presented to substantiate the claim that CORTEX is collecting doctors’ banking information as part of its health-sector functions.
It said it welcomed legitimate questions about data protection, cybersecurity and the digitalisation of healthcare, noting that such discussions are important as Guyana continues to modernise its public health system.
However, the Ministry maintained that concerns surrounding the digital transformation of healthcare should be based on verified information.
It said CORTEX is intended to strengthen accountability across the pharmaceutical supply chain, from procurement through to the delivery of medication to patients, while ensuring that healthcare professionals operating within the digital environment are properly verified.
The Government, the Ministry said, remains committed to protecting personal information, strengthening cybersecurity and ensuring that the digital transformation of the health sector is implemented responsibly and securely.
The Ministry said it would continue to address legitimate concerns and provide clarification where necessary, but cautioned against presenting unverified allegations as established fact.