Budget 2016: $28 billion for health
This year, the government expects to spend about $28 billion, or 10.9 percent of the budget on the health sector.
*A commission of inquiry into suicides will be held and an emergency suicide prevention plan of action will be developed. Data collection and research will include gathering epidemiological data, demographic information, and research on driving factors contributing to designated rates per region. Analysis will be done at the regional and country level, including maps and profiles for targeted interventions. We will also train secondary school teachers and students to be able to identify those at risk for self-harm. A psychiatry programme is being developed for the University of Guyana, and this year, a mental health secretariat will be established to offer training and services to both professionals and those seeking mental health services.
*Over $89 million is earmarked for the expansion of the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) maternity unit. Additionally, this year’s allocation will facilitate the purchase of equipment such as table-top foetal heart rate monitors, handheld foetal heart monitors and portable ultrasound machines, with the aim of increasing the quality of service being offered at the institution’s maternal and child care facility.
* In 2016, over $6.5 billion has been budgeted for drugs and related consumable medical supplies, to address the expanding range of services and coverage being given to citizens across our country.
*$1.9 billion will be spent on health facilities. This will include mobilization for the construction of the state-of-the-art specialty surgical hospital at Liliendaal; a ten-bed cardiac theatre and intensive care unit at the GPHC; various works at hospitals at Port Kaituma, Kwakwani and Linden; and diagnostic centres at Diamond and Leonora. Additionally, over $1 billion will be spent on the purchase and maintenance of medical equipment, double the allocation of last year. Preparatory works will begin on the modernization of primary health care facilities at Bartica, Suddie and West Demerara Regional Hospitals, funding for which will be sourced from India.