To improve and modernise Guyana’s health care system, the government has increased the budgetary allocation for the health sector to a whopping $84.9 billion in 2023.
Hinterland health facilities will not be neglected, according to Minister of Health Dr Frank Anthony, who noted that the services are expected to undergo major upgrades this year.
“Lethem for example would have a major upgrade [and] Mabaruma, Moruca. You would see us upgrading the hospital at Kamarang, Kato…Mahdia, we would also be improving that hospital as well,” he revealed.
Some $1 billion has been earmarked in Budget 2023 to advance this initiative.
In addition, the Karasabai, Annai, and Sand Creek health centres will be upgraded into district hospitals providing radiology and laboratory services to residents.
Another $237 million has been set aside to upgrade those facilities.
Telemedicine centres will also be constructed in Regions One, Seven, Eight, and Nine to provide real-time, remote diagnoses and treatment in remote Amerindian communities by using technology.
“A lot of the sites that I talked about, the hospitals would be equipped with the right equipment so that we can do all of these things and connectivity so that the standard of care that we will have on the coastland would be the standard of care that you will have in the hinterland,” Dr Anthony pointed out.
The Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali-led administration is seeking to position Guyana as a world-class provider of healthcare services and has embarked on several initiatives to ensure this.
These include the construction of six new regional hospitals at Lima, De Kindren, Diamond, Enmore, Bath, and No. 75 Village and a Pediatric and Maternal Hospital at Ogle, East Coast of Demerara.
Some $13.1 billion has been budgeted to continue construction this year.
“Over this year and running into the next two years, you will see a total transformation of our hospital infrastructure,” the health minister highlighted.