President Dr Irfaan Ali has warned that health officials who operate outside Guyana’s new centralised medical supply system will be sent home as Government moves to tighten control over the management of pharmaceuticals and medical supplies across the public health sector.
The warning was issued on Monday during a meeting with Regional Health Officers (RHOs), hospital administrators, ministry officials and Chief Medical Officer (CMO), Dr Narine Singh.According to the President, the new platform will become the sole system governing the distribution and management of drugs and medical supplies from July 1.
“If you act outside of that, we have no other choice but to send you home,” President Ali told officials, noting that the system includes clearly defined procedures and approval responsibilities.
Under the new arrangement, regions will no longer be allowed to independently purchase emergency drugs. Instead, any such purchase must receive approval from the Director of Regional Health Services, the CMO and the head of the Materials Management Unit (MMU).
President Ali said a monthly committee comprising health officials, including the Minister of Health, Permanent Secretary and Chief Pharmacist, will review emergency supply requirements across the country’s health system, including the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation and regional hospitals.
He explained that the centralised system is intended to improve accountability and reduce losses associated with expired, damaged and excess stock, while providing real-time information on available supplies.
The President also stressed that emergency items such as venom and antivenom will be managed through the MMU.
“There is absolutely no situation where the regions must be purchasing emergency drugs unless there is a clear sign-off on the system,” he said.
The platform is already operational and will replace all other systems on July 1.
