The government has allocated a total of $863 million in the 2022 budget, $399 million above what was budgeted in 2021, to subsidise the cost of various local and overseas surgeries for Guyanese.
In his budget presentation, Finance Minister Dr. Ashni Singh had announced that $180 million was allocated to provide up to $600,000 annually to some 300 dialysis patients across Guyana, cutting their annual cost by half.
But the assistance goes beyond that with Health Minister Dr. Frank Anthony announcing on Thursday during an examination of the spending for his ministry that another $70 million to assist persons with radiation and $400 million has been set aside to offer assistance to patients who are in need of cardiac interventions.
In addition, $60 million is allocated for persons who need cat scans and Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), $18 million for cross-matching targeting patients who are in need of renal transplants and $20 million for eye care patients in need of specialised operations.
Dr. Anthony also noted that $12 million has been set aside for patients who would need prosthetics and $103 million for patients who would need help for “other illnesses” and may need to be sent overseas.
“This heading is beneficial to a lot of people,” Dr. Anthony noted while pointing out that in 2021 the government was able to help some 1, 538 persons.
“This amount is expected to grow during this year,” Dr. Anthony added.
The increase in funding was commended by former Minister of Public Health Dr. Karen Cummings.
