Package of over 200 services drafted to improve primary healthcare

As Government seek to fulfil a commitment to provide improved primary healthcare services
across the country, the Health Ministry in collaboration with the Pan-American Health
Organisation/World Health Organisation (PAHO/WHO) drafted a package of 0ver 200 essential
health services to advance primary healthcare locally.
Health Minister, Dr. Frank Anthony and PAHO/WHO Representative to Guyana, Dr. Luis
Codina, along with other health officials on Tuesday held the first meeting at the Marriott Hotel,
to further discuss the package before implementation. “For many years we have been talking
about what are the types of services we want to provide under the Ministry of Health and to try
to define these services… But in many instances these plans have not been integrated throughout
the different layers that we have in the ministry,” Minister Anthony said.

Dr. Anthony noted that it is not just about defining the services, but also putting measures in
place to deliver these services at health posts, health centres, and district and regional hospitals.
“We now came up with about 215 different interventions that we think are important for us to
deliver at the various levels,” he explained.
Minister Anthony said the meeting was aimed at allowing health directors to verify, validate and
tailor these interventions to suit the respective administrative regions. “Moving forward this is
going to be the tool that we’ll be using as we move forward to deliver these services,” he added.
The health minister noted that when the plan is completed, it is expected to address all issues
affecting primary healthcare in the various regions, including drug shortages. Dr. Anthony
revealed that President Irfaan Ali has pointed out that Guyana must have a more “robust”
primary healthcare system, ensuring all Guyanese, especially those in farflung and hinterland
communities can have better access to health services.
Meanwhile, Dr. Codina said persons must be able to have access to healthcare services when
they need it, as such the package will be implemented to address the more pressing issues in
Guyana. “How can we go from this excellent document to action and through this path we are
working in some other areas simultaneously, first area (is) human resource, it’s very important to
discuss… The second thing is to have available equipment, medicines, everything to respond to
the needs of the communities,” Dr. Codina revealed.
Dr. Codina added that PAHO/WHO is working to get essential medicines for the communities.
He highlighted that it is important to update and put in place legislation to address health matters.