HGP Nightly News – President Irfaan Ali has warned regional health officials and hospital administrators that they will face serious consequences if they operate outside the country’s new centralised medical supply system.
The warning was issued on Monday during a meeting with Regional Health Officers, hospital administrators, Ministry of Health officials and Chief Medical Officer Dr. Narine Singh.
Ali said the new platform will become the only system governing pharmaceuticals and medical supplies across Guyana’s public health sector from July 1.
The President said the system comes with clear standard operating procedures and defined sign-off responsibilities. He made it clear that officials will not be allowed to bypass the process.
“If you act outside of that, we have no other choice but to send you home,” Ali warned.
Under the new arrangement, regions will no longer be allowed to independently purchase emergency drugs.
Any emergency purchase must now be approved through the system and signed off by the Director of Regional Health Services, the Chief Medical Officer and the head of the Materials Management Unit.
A wider committee, including the Minister of Health, an advisor, the Permanent Secretary and the Chief Pharmacist, will also meet monthly by Zoom to assess emergency supply needs across the full public health system.
That process will cover both the Georgetown Public Hospital and regional hospitals.
Ali said the reform is intended to improve control, reduce waste and prevent losses caused by expired, damaged or overstocked medical supplies.
He said the platform will give health authorities real-time visibility of available pharmaceuticals and medical supplies across the system.
The President noted that some supplies, such as antivenom and other critical items, may have to be stocked even if they are not frequently used. However, he said those items must still be controlled through the Materials Management Unit.
“There is absolutely no situation where the regions must be purchasing emergency drugs unless there is a clear sign-off on the system,” Ali said.
According to the President, the government’s investment in healthcare includes not only buildings and equipment, but also stronger systems of management and accountability.
He told the officials that hospitals and health facilities fall under their leadership, and they will be expected to ensure that the new system is followed.
The platform is already live, but from July 1, all other systems will be discontinued, leaving the centralised platform as the sole mechanism for managing medical supplies.
The meeting was also attended by Minister of Health Dr. Frank Anthony and Senior Minister in the Office of the President with responsibility for Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh.
