Funds are available and rehabilitation works are expected to start soon at the Bartica, Suddie, and West Demerara regional hospitals, High Commissioner of India, Dr K J Srinivasa says.
During a recent interview with this newspaper, Srinivasa said that the project is already in an “advanced stage” and the procurement process has already commenced.
“That is already in advance stage. We have now finalised what you call a preliminary qualification criteria for the tendering companies. Now, we have already asked for request for proposals. So once that time period moves on then we will go for the tendering,” Srinivasa informed.
According to Srinivasa, funds for the project were made available by the Exim Bank of India.
In 2017, former Minister of Finance Winston Jordan had signed a US$17.5 million (GY$3.7 billion) line of credit agreement with the Exim Bank of India.
The line of credit was originally assigned for the construction of a specialty hospital but the previous administration had signalled that it was not interested in pursuing that project.
As a result, a decision was taken to use the money to modernise the primary health care system in Guyana, which will see an enhancement in the delivery of primary healthcare in all regions throughout the country.
The upgrade of the three regional hospitals is expected to ease the burden on the Georgetown Public Hospital, since it has been observed that persons from the hinterland regions often neglect the health care services in their district to travel to Georgetown because they have a perception that superior healthcare services are offered in the capital city, as opposed to the other regional hospitals around the country.
The project will also cater for an upgraded recording-keeping system at the facilities.
