In presenting the 2010 budget to the National Assembly yesterday, Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh said that $60 million have been allocated to complete a modern warehouse facility, which, along with the computerized inventory management system, will improve the storage and distribution of pharmaceuticals across the ten regions and significantly reduce the turnaround time for supply of drugs to the regions.
$1.4 billion will be spent for the construction, rehabilitation and maintenance of health facilities countrywide. This includes $716 million for the new in-patient facility at the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPH) which is expected to be completed this year. $37 million have been budgeted for the rehabilitation of the West Demerara Regional Hospital, $23 million for the rehabilitation and expansion of the Skeldon Hospital, $23 million to purchase and install a new elevator at the GPH and $15 million to construct a nurse’s hostel at Port Kaituma.
Singh told the House that over $300 million will be spent on human resource development in the sector while another $300 million is budgeted to be spent on further enhancement of ante-natal and child health programmes with specific focus on the prevention of maternal and infant mortality and on child nutrition.
Further, he said, major emphasis will be placed on effectiveness of operations and on quality of services in the health system this year. He said the government will continue efforts to modernize the legal framework including through such legislation as the Allied Health Professional Bill and the Persons with Disabilities currently before Parliament. In addition, regional service agreements are being developed which will result in each administrative region committing to the delivery of health care package based on agreed targets while being held accountable by the Ministry of Health.
