Latest update April 19th, 2024 12:59 AM
Dec 09, 2008 News
Each year, the Government spends millions of dollars to provide health care. Moreso, a large amount of this money is spent on medical evacuations alone.
According to Minister within the Ministry of Health, Dr. Bheri Ramsaran, on an average, the Ministry of Health alone spends between $12M and $20M a year on medical evacuation from the hinterland communities.
Dr. Ramsaran said that medical evacuations fall under the Ministry of Health Regional Health Services Project Four, which is mandated by the Government to ensure all emergency medical cases in far-flung area are transferred to the city for specialist medical treatment. He, however, noted that not only the Ministry of Health plays a vital role in ensuring persons living in hinterland communities get emergency medical treatment.
According to Dr. Ramsaran, the Ministry of Local Government and the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs also play significant parts in this area. He noted that the Local Government Ministry sometimes spends double the amount the Health Ministry spends annually.
He added that, over the years, there has been a decrease in the number of emergency medical evacuation cases, since the ministry has been placing emphasis on placing medical personnel in the hinterland regions. In addition, he said, their works are even easier in identifying the emergency cases with the introduction of radio sets at every medical centre in the hinterland.
“From the time an emergency case is identified, what the medical workers in the respective regions would do is send a message out to us, and we make the necessary arrangements to have the patient brought to the city,” Dr Ramsaran said.
He noted, too, that on some occasions, more that one patient is brought out on one flight, but these are in instances when accidents occur.
He said that the more prevalent medical evacuation cases are complicated pregnancies and deliveries.
“What we have been finding over the years is that most pregnant Amerindian women, instead of going to clinics, they would stay at home, and only at delivery then they would find a number of complications,” Dr Ramsaran said. He added that, with those minor hiccups, the ministry’s job has been getting easier with the better airstrips that are available.
“The airstrips are making it easier for us now. At first we had difficulties getting to some areas, but now, with some 50 to 60 airstrips available, medical evacuations are a little easier for us to deal with,” Ramsaran said.
Please share this to every Guyanese including your house cats.
Apr 19, 2024
SportsMax – West Indies Women’s captain Hayley Matthews delivered a stellar all-round performance to lead her team to a commanding 113-run victory over Pakistan Women in the first One Day...Kaieteur News – For years, the disciples of Bharrat Jagdeo have woven a narrative of economic success during his tenure... more
By Sir Ronald Sanders Waterfalls Magazine – On April 10, the Permanent Council of the Organization of American States... more
Freedom of speech is our core value at Kaieteur News. If the letter/e-mail you sent was not published, and you believe that its contents were not libellous, let us know, please contact us by phone or email.
Feel free to send us your comments and/or criticisms.
Contact: 624-6456; 225-8452; 225-8458; 225-8463; 225-8465; 225-8473 or 225-8491.
Or by Email: [email protected] / [email protected]