GUYANA-President Ali urges doctors to provide better services in both public and private services.

GEORGETOWN, Guyana, CMC -President Irfaan Ali said Friday that while he does not intend to stop doctors from working simultaneously in the private and public sectors, they should, however, provide improved services to patients.

“I believe we are making serious investments in the healthcare system, and in making these investments, the population and the government expect that in a short period, we must be able to deliver efficient, quality, and world-class healthcare to the citizens of Guyana in the first instance,” Ali told the medical community at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre, at Liliendaal, Georgetown.

A government statement said that the briefing was an opportunity for the medical community to learn more about the government’s plans for the health sector and how they can contribute to its success.

Speaking at a brief opening ceremony before the closed-door session with the doctors, President Ali said he wants the healthcare professionals, many of whom are attached to Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), to guarantee that all patients seeking services in the public sector will access a minimum standard of service and that all case backlogs are addressed in the shortest possible time.

“I want us to identify the areas of backlog, and we are going to invest in clearing those backlogs, particularly in matters that concern women and children,” Ali said, noting that the government’s plans for developing the healthcare sector include guaranteeing that all Guyanese have access to primary healthcare services alongside more specialized services.

He said the healthcare workers are an integral part of the development of the health sector since they are the ones who will be providing the care. They are tasked with utilizing the new facilities, hospitals, and centers being built.

But he told the medical practitioners that while he could not bar them from offering their services in the private sector, he believes “we can work towards a healthy balance.”

Ali said that the government is working on both short-term and medium-term solutions, including training opportunities, to fill staffing gaps.