By Neil Marks
neil@newsroom.gy
The government Tuesday agreed to establish minimum standards for the delivery of healthcare and education nationwide, from ensuring clean and functional washrooms to addressing persistent issues like delivery of medication to patients on a long-term basis rather that having them make monthly trips to refill.
“We came here for soul-searching,” President Irfaan Ali said after an all-day meeting with key technical officers from the country’s ten administrative regions. “We have examined every opportunity and every challenge to ensure we deliver the most optimal and highest quality of service to our people.”
President Ali underscored the government’s commitment to delivering world-class education and healthcare services across Guyana.
The meeting brought together Regional Executive Officer, Regional Health Officers, Regional Education Officers, and Ministers of Education, Health, Finance, and Local Government to assess progress, address challenges, and strengthen service delivery mechanisms.
“The task is not just about infrastructure; it’s about efficiency and creating a customer-oriented environment,” President Ali said. “We’ve made tremendous investments for the people, and it’s key that bureaucracy does not serve as an impediment in meeting their needs.”
This year, the education and health sectors have been allotted $318.2 billion in this year’s budget.
One of the key things agreed to is that patients at clinics will not have to return every month to refill their medication. A system is being developed so they can have a three-month supply.
To help make this possible, the stockpiling of essential medication will be made at the regional level and eventually at a district level. Further, a digitised service will help authorities in Georgetown track when medication is running low and to restock, thereby eliminating gaps in service delivery.
“Our health centres are not just there when you are sick but for continuous support,” President Ali emphasised. The decentralization efforts aim to reduce the need for patients to travel long distances on a regular basis for care.
“We must ensure a high standard of service,” the President asserted, emphasising the need for optimal value from the investments made over the last four years. “We have seen how these investments have changed the lives of people in the regions,” he added, highlighting the significant strides made in health and education.
President Ali outlined the government’s focus on building new infrastructure, repairing old facilities, and ensuring efficiency in service delivery. Investments in textbooks, teacher training, and healthcare worker development have been central to the administration’s strategy.
The President acknowledged ongoing challenges in human resources, including shortages of drivers, mechanics, and porters. Additionally, indiscipline, abuse of sick leave, and inefficiencies in the system were flagged as areas requiring urgent attention.
To combat these issues, the government has implemented a strategy for accountability and performance monitoring.
“We have listened extensively and come up with a plan to hold everyone accountable,” President Ali said. In was in this context that he announced the introduction of minimum service standards across all regions.
To ensure consistency and quality in service delivery, the government will establish a quality assurance body, which will include representatives of civil society, in every region. These bodies will monitor service standards and provide oversight, ensuring that investments translate into tangible benefits for citizens.
Minister of Education Priya Manickchand echoed the President’s sentiments, emphasising the government’s commitment to equitable access to education. “We have challenges in various areas but given the direction of the President and the resources in the system, management has ensured progress,” she said. She highlighted initiatives such as school feeding programs, textbook distribution, and localized teacher training as key successes.
Carl Singh, the Regional Executive Officer of Region Nine, provided further insight into the region’s progress, noting that all teachers in the region are either trained or in training. He also highlighted efforts to provide accommodations for educators to ensure they can serve remote communities effectively.
Minister of Local Government Sonia Parag underscored the importance of strengthening governance structures to improve service delivery. “From day one, the investment has been tremendous,” she said, pointed to the President’s initiative to establish of a permanent citizen desk in every Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) to ensure community needs are met efficiently.
Minister of Finance Dr Ashni Singh placed the day’s discussions in the broader context of Guyana’s national priorities. “These two sectors—education and health—are at the core of our national priorities,” he said.
“National prosperity must translate to community, family, and individual prosperity.
He emphasised the government’s goal to ensure the benefits of development reach every region.
“Gone are the days when quality health and education were only available on the coast. Good quality services must be accessible no matter where you live,” Dr Singh stated.
