PEOPLE’S National Congress Reform 2011 Presidential Nominee, Dr. Faith Harding has thrown her support behind the construction of a Specialty Hospital in Guyana.
And she has taken the opposition to task for moving to cut the budgeted $2.25B from this year's national budget for the construction of the facility.

Dr. Faith Harding

Dr. Harding, who was one of the candidates running for the presidential candidacy of the People's National Congress Reform ahead of the 2011 general and regional elections, said that "it is a shame" the Opposition decided to cut the budget for the hospital, since health tourism in Guyana is a necessity in propelling the country into the 21st century.

"Modernising and improving health services, upgrading specialist skills, uplifting confidence in the population, bringing about resourcefulness and boosting the economy", she identified as among the benefits of such a project.

Dr Harding said that while in the United States recently, she met with doctors from a children's hospital, who promulgated the idea and highlighted that Guyana has the ideal natural environment to aid recovery of patients.

She also highlighted the transfer of technical skills to Guyanese as another benefit of the facility.
Dr Harding noted that she was very proud of then President Bharrat Jagdeo for his insight and was especially heartened, when he inked the deal for the hospital with the Indian government back in 2009.

Dr Harding feels that the Opposition, particularly APNU, needs to stop looking at the messenger and focus on the message, and must support projects that will aid in Guyana's development.

Ms Harding's comment came less than a day after the Government of Jamaica announced it was moving to construct a US$200M Specialty Hospital, with the aim of tapping into the medical tourism sector.

Prime Minister Portia Simpson-Miller’s Cabinet approved the project, and the facility will be constructed in the western parish of St. James.
Jamaica’s Minister of Health, Dr. Fenton Ferguson, said construction of the facility represents the first formal health tourism project for Jamaica.

It will be spearheaded by members of the diaspora, through an established partnership with the Government of Jamaica.
Ferguson said Jamaica represents the best possibilities and opportunities for health tourism, not just based on geographical location and the strength of the tourism product, but also the improved road network characterized by modern highways, and first class airports.
Dr Harding lauded the Jamaican Prime Minister for making such move.