Leader of The New Movement Party and Joinder List Representative in the National Assembly, Dr. Asha Kissoon today decried the state of the health sector in Guyana, declaring that it is contributing to the exodus of nurses and doctors from the system, even as she acknowledged that some progress has been made. 

Contributing to the 2024 National budget debate, the Deputy Speaker who is a Medical Doctor, said health care professionals in Guyana need to be better compensated for the work they do.

“In the Public Health system, Mr. Speaker, our salaries are not competitive on the level with the Caribbean, the doctors have made continuous pleas for this to be corrected. Mr. Speaker, we acknowledge, that there is a lot to be done and we say that the Health Sector’s budget is good, but considerations should be made for the points that I have raised,” the Deputy Speaker noted.

Dr. Kissoon’s statement irritated Health Minister, Dr. Frank Anthony, who stood on a point of order requesting that the Doctor provides evidence to back up her statements. Though his point of order was ruled out by the Speaker, Dr. Kissoon said any doctor could be contacted to verify her statements about the state of the healthcare sector in the country.

“Mr. Speaker, standing on truth, I will submit that document from the doctors, because I will not stand and lie to this Honorable house, I am bringing awareness and what is happening,” Dr. Kissoon stated.

She said doctors sometimes work 12, 16 and 24 hours shifts for a mere G$4,000 which is taxed with no overtime being catered for them. 

She said a document was submitted to the Health Ministry, outlining the issues that doctors are facing in Guyana, but there has been no response and the concerns of doctors have been ignored.

“It is not simply because there is better opportunity outside, most of the times when they make a plea for the minimum to be done for them it is met with deaf ears,” Dr. Kissoon noted.

The Government intends to build several new hospitals over the next two years, even as there are calls for the already established hospitals to be properly outfitted with the equipment, medication and support needed for the health professionals to function effectively.

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