A state-of-the art paediatric and maternal hospital is listed among the capital projects to be funded under the Ministry of Health’s budget this year, Minister of Finance Dr Ashni Singh announced yesterday.
Of the $16.1B allocated to the ministry’s major expansion in public health care facilities project, $14.1B will be used in the design and construction of the hospital and the upgrading of the West Demerara and Bartica regional hospitals.
While funds will be spent to construct the new hospital, Singh told the House that monies will also be channeled to strengthen health facilities with related equipment and family planning services.
Singh highlighted to the house that maternal mortality remains high at an estimated 140 per 100,000 live births due to, inter alia, COVID-19 complications, pregnancy induced hypertension and post-partum haemorrhage.
“We also anticipate that the maternal waiting homes at Moruca and Kato as well as the maternity ward at the New Amsterdam Hospital will be substantially completed this year, all of which are expected to improve maternal and child health,” he stressed.
Further, of the $16.1B, a portion will be spent on the construction of six modern regional hospitals at Anna Regina, Tuschen, Diamond, Enmore, Bath and No. 75 Village, Corentyne.
“These regional hospitals are expected to catapult healthcare delivery beyond current levels provided by existing regional facilities as well as to reduce the undue cost and burden of referrals to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC)”, Singh said to a loud applause from the government side of the House.
In addition, a further $220 million is budgeted to retrofit and equip the Festival City Polyclinic to provide services which will include x-ray, dental, laboratory and rehabilitation services, the Minister said.
Under the Health Ministry’s $73.2B allocation, $1B will spent on the upgrading of health centres across all Regions, to address critical interventions needed to improve the patient experience.
