Number of health workers significantly increased

Georgetown, GINA, August 12, 2016

The Ministry of Public Health has been boosting its human resource capacity, to provide a better level of health care service. For the first half of this year, 580 medical officers were employed by the Ministry, according to the Ministry of Finance’s, Mid-Year Report 2016.

This is an increase of almost 100 persons employed when compared to the same period in 2015. In addition to these officers, the Ministry also employed several specialist medical professionals.

Further, in an effort to improve the overall quality of health care countrywide, the number of physicians per ten thousand population also increased from 14.1 in the first half of 2015 to 20.3 in the first half of 2016.

Meanwhile, the number of nurses per ten thousand population moved from 31.4 to 31.8.

Specialty services also continued to be expanded with the development of additional obstetrician/gynecologists and one pediatrician in selected regions.

With this increase in human capacity at the health care facilities, citizens will receive more efficient and effective treatment.

A lot of emphasis is also being placed on capacity building for health workers. A total of $172M was expended on training for medical professionals during the first six months of the year. This is also in keeping with government’s quest to have a professional and efficient public service, which will allow its citizens to enjoy the best quality of health care.

The first half of the year has seen the Ministry spending $11.5B of its $28B National Budget.