President threatens Health Officials with firing over procurement problems and accountability issues

President Irfaan Ali today told Government Health Officials from across the country that they will be sent home if they are found wanting in the procurement of pharmaceuticals or general incompetence in the healthcare sector.

The President said his Government continues to invest heavily in the healthcare sector to ensure the best possible healthcare for Guyanese, and therefore service delivery is non-negotiable.

In addition, he said the Government has invested in a new system within the Materials Management Unit, (MMU) which speaks clearly of how procurement ought to be done. He said officials who act outside of the SOPs of the MMU head will be sent home.

“Anybody who work outside of that system outside of the SOPs you will be sent home, anybody works outside of the system we have established at the MMU will be sent home, there are clear procedures for purchases, there are clear procedures as to who must sign off and here is where Director of Regional Health Services, Chief Medical Officer, all have defined responsibilities,” the President reminded.

The President also told the officials that in addition to ensuring that every patient has the best experience at the healthcare facilities, they must try their best to minimize wastage of pharmaceuticals, whether through expiration, overstocking or damage.

“We are building a world-class healthcare system, not only by the level of service or the amount of service we offer, but also by the way we care for our patients and treat patients, by the way we manage—by the level of transparency and accountability. Our goal in this new system is to minimize system is to minimize loss through expiration, damage and overstocking, to minimize it below industry standard,” the President noted.

In the past few years, the Ministry of Health has found itself dumping hundreds of millions of dollars worth of expired drugs, even as many Public Hospitals and Clinics complain of a lack of medical supplies and some drugs.

President Ali said while there are certain things that cannot be controlled, there should be no reason why Regions should be purchasing emergency drugs unless there is a class sign off on the system by the Director of Regional Health Services, the Chief Medical Officer and the head of the MMU.

He said, there will be a meeting every month with senior Health Officers, which will be led by Health Minister, Dr. Frank Anthony, to determine whether emergency supplies are needed.

“I expect that the Minister, the advisor and his team will convene a meeting with all his administrators of the hospitals of the health clinics so that they also will be brought up-to-speed because everyone is on this programme now. I have asked for a full assessment of all the facilities of health centers,” the President noted.

The President also stated that there will be changes in some Regional Health Officers in coming days, the Government is also working to address the salary disparities between Doctors and certain health officials.

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