Strategy leasing of biomedical equipment to improve health services

DPI, Guyana, Monday, September 3, 2018

Minister of Public Health, Volda Lawrence announced the decision to lease biomedical equipment for health facilities throughout the country.

Minister Lawrence detailed today that, “in 2019, we have a new policy in the ministry where we will go towards leasing equipment and we feel with that position we will be able to not only have adequate equipment but updated equipment.”

Responding to questions regarding the availability of critical medical equipment, Minister Lawrence submitted that this would be a strategic move by the ministry since it would eliminate the myriad of challenges associated with having biomedical equipment acquired and maintained.

“If we lease then it will be the company that is responsible for all of that, so we are thinking ahead of how we can address this issue because it’s not just a one institution issue, it’s across Guyana.”

Explaining the advantages of leasing, the minister said that the equipment would be more modern and would benefit from readily available technical support. “Many of the equipment that we have needs replacing, many of them are outdated. You cannot just walk into a store and find parts for them.”

While noting the many advancements in the medical field, the need for more trained personnel in the field of biomedical technology was also expressed. “Now, over and over again over the many years that while we were training doctors we did not train biomedical technicians.”

By: Delicia Haynes.