Dr Bheri Ramsaran
The Health Ministry on Monday dispatched 70 newly-trained doctors to its main hospitals across the country. Fourteen of the doctors are being deployed to the New Amsterdam Public Hospital, 10 to the West Demerara Regional Hospital, eight to the Suddie Public Hospital, eight to the Linden Hospital Complex and 30 to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation.
During a press conference in the ministry’s boardroom, Health Minister Dr Bheri Ramsaran emphasised that these efforts are part of the ministry’s vision to facilitate the continuous learning of health-care providers.
He noted that during the day, the first batch of doctors were able to interface with the permanent secretary and personnel manager and discussed their contractual arrangements, accommodation and other planning.
As part of the initial process, the doctors including those who recently returned from Cuba, will be engaged in additional training sessions in basic life support, advanced life support, paediatric advanced life support and Visual Inspection Using Acetic Acid (VIA).
With regards to the 200 odd doctors who returned from Cuba, Minister Ramsaran indicated that they too, will be engaged in similar training sessions during September 12 to 28.
The intention is that all the doctors will complete the training and their orientation before month-end.
While these doctors fall under the supervision of the new Regional Health Services Director Dr Monica Odwin, the Local Government and Regional Development Ministry also has a role to play in ensuring that they are introduced to the management of the hospital at which they will be posted.
The regional health and executive officers will function as their administrative supervisors.
Minister Ramsaran noted that the process is a collaborative one among the ministries of health, local government and regional development and public service.
Additionally, the doctors will be given an evaluation journal similar to that given by the medical council.
In relation to the offering of post-graduate studies, Minister Ramsaran explained that talks have been had with the Cubans, and as a result of that discussion, four Guyanese doctors are preparing to travel to Cuba to commence their post-grad studies.
This arrangement is similar to that of the initial one made between the governments of Guyana and Cuba for the offering of medical scholarships.
Additionally, doctors are also encouraged to pursue studies in the administrative and policy aspects of the medical field. That partnership has resulted in hundreds of Guyanese being able to access scholarships and the construction of critical medical facilities such as the Suddie, Diamond, Mahaicony and National Ophthalmology hospitals.
He also emphasised that there have been expressions of interests from Cuban-trained Caribbean nationals to complete their sixth year of study and rotations here in Guyana.
Minister Ramsaran indicated that thus far, two are already in the programme and more requests are expected.
