HGP Nightly News – The Ministry of Health is moving to tighten oversight within the public health system, with doctors and nurses now expected to come under closer review as part of a new quality audit initiative aimed at improving patient care and enforcing accountability.
The new system will allow clinical audit teams to randomly examine patient charts to determine whether healthcare workers are following approved treatment protocols. The move is expected to place greater pressure on medical staff to maintain proper standards while giving the Ministry another tool to identify weaknesses in the delivery of care.
Minister of Health Dr. Frank Anthony said the initiative is designed to strengthen the country’s healthcare system by detecting gaps in treatment and ensuring that patients receive the level of care required.
According to the Minister, audit teams will visit health facilities, select random patient records, and review whether the care provided matches established medical guidelines. Where shortcomings are found, doctors, nurses, and other healthcare workers will be informed and given time to correct the issues.
He explained that if the review shows that staff members need further training, recommendations will be made to help improve their performance and bring the standard of care in line with expectations.
The Minister also made it clear that the system is not only about training and correction, but also accountability. He said healthcare professionals could face consequences in cases where negligence is found to have contributed to a patient’s death, especially in cases involving maternal deaths.
For nurses, Dr. Anthony said matters involving negligence can be referred to the Nursing Council. In serious cases, he noted, a nurse could lose their licence and be barred from practicing in Guyana.
The Ministry has, over the years, expanded training for healthcare workers, particularly in the management of maternal patients. Dr. Anthony said those training efforts will continue as the government works to reduce risks, improve outcomes, and ensure that patients receive safer and more consistent care across the public health system.
