Linden patients no longer have to pay for laboratory tests – critical drugs restocked

DPI, Guyana, Wednesday, May 2, 2018

The Linden Hospital Complex (LHC) is now in a better position to meet the medical needs of its patients as it is now in possession of a biochemistry analyser.

Biochemistry machine currently at the LHC.

The laboratory machine, which has been loaned to the hospital by Caribbean Medicals, is used to conduct several critical tests. These include tests for kidney and liver function, lipid profile, enzyme and sugar.

For close to a year, the hospital’s machine was out of order and Lindeners were forced to conduct the aforementioned tests at private laboratories. Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of LHC, Dr. Mohammed Riyasat said with the loan, “the financial burden was offset and with the machine, we have more efficiency”.

The LHC will soon have its own biochemistry analyser since the machine was budgeted for in 2017. The Ministry of Public Health, which has responsibility for purchasing capital products, will source the machine through the national procurement process.

Dr. Riyasat also revealed that the hospital has restocked its medical supplies including surgical tapes, gloves, fusions, gauze and diabetic test strips. He revealed that LHC now receives the supplies from the Materials Management Unit (MMU) rather than sourcing from the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) as was previously done.

The ministry through the MMU has sought to eliminate the shortage of drugs in health facilities by creating a new procurement system. The new procedure will see the country stocked with one year’s supply of drugs and medical supplies for distribution in all administrative regions.

 

By: Vanessa Braithwaite.

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