Describing the new inpatient facility as another milestone in the modernisation of the health-care sector, Health Minister Dr Leslie Ramsammy on Monday joined others in the medical fraternity in applauding the transformation of the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC).
President Jagdeo applauds after a nurse cuts the ribbon to officially commission the new in-patient facility at the GPHC. Also in photo are: Health Minister Dr Leslie Ramsammy, GPHC CEO Michael Khan and PPP member Kwame Gilbert
President Bharrat Jagdeo briefly stopped by to unveil the plaque and officially commission the facility.
He urged the healthcare providers to adopt patient-friendly attitudes, since the pride is not only held in the physical structure but in the service.
The president urged GPHC employees to maintain accountability for the level of investment made in the health-care system.
Dr Ramsammy said the structure symbolises future possibilities in the public healthcare system, and like the rest of the health sector, it must serve all the people of Guyana regardless of race, religion, culture, class, or geographical origin.
The health minister stated that many persons would not remember the state of the old, government-run hospital back in the 1980s where clogged drains and overflowing sewers were a regular feature.
Depicting the old GPHC building as decrepit, Ramsammy recalled experiencing fear that the stairway would collapse beneath him or the floors in the wards would cave in under his weight. “It brought disdain to those of us who worked here, and it was a frightening experience for those who had to access treatment,” the health minister reminisced.
He went on to describe broken and leaky operating rooms where sterility, one of the prerequisites of a safe and sanitary surgery, could not be guaranteed.
Ramsammy said the budget crunch of the 1980s, which he dismissed as a lost decade, left the medical fraternity with little morale.
“These buildings are only part of the reconstruction story,” he remarked.
The health minister pointed out that for too long Guyanese have been seeking medical treatment overseas, but soon travelling to access these services will no longer be necessary.
Chairman of the Board, Dr Nanda Gopaul, during his remarks, stated that the construction of the inpatient facility was not an easy task.
He said the hospital did not escape the notice of the public when word got out that patients were sharing beds and the institution was forced to endure the snide remarks of those who experienced patientcare delay. According to Dr Gopaul, this was all with the aim of improving efficiency and providing excellent healthcare to the Guyanese public.
He emphasised that the management of the hospital tried tirelessly to minimise the inconvenience and to ensure that patient care remains paramount.
GPHC’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Michael Khan said the completed facility can be viewed with a profound sense of accomplishment.
The in-patient care facility was built to integrate all necessary services and erase the logistical nightmare patients experienced when they needed all of the following: X-rays, admissions, medical care and other services.
Khan stated that integration is key to managing response time, which is integrally tied to saving lives. He noted that it is an important part of the hospital’s mandate to ensure that the level of infrastructure reflects technological advances in the healthcare service.
The new facility houses the female and male medical and surgical wards, and has a capacity of 202 beds with individual oxygen components. The building is equipped with a nurse’s alert system and intercom, which allows for the summoning of doctors and other medical attendants.
There are also four quiet rooms, which can accommodate grieving relatives as well as those who wish to pray in privacy.
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