President announces new regional hospital for West Demerara

President Dr. Irfaan Ali has unveiled plans for the construction of a new, state-of-the-art regional hospital in West Demerara, Region Three. The announcement was made during the commissioning of the Zeelugt Primary School on Friday.

President Ali highlighted the advancements at the current West Demerara Regional Hospital, citing remarkable progress over the past four years.

“In the first four months of 2021, they did 16 surgeries. In the first four months of 2024, they did 585 surgeries. It is easy to post one bad story or two bad stories on Facebook. But what about this? 585 surgeries that were completed, compared to 16 in 2021,” he said.

The expansion of surgical services has contributed to a significant reduction in patient referrals to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC). According to President Ali, referrals to GPHC have nearly halved over the past four years.

“The number of referrals to Georgetown Hospital in the first four months of 2020 was 208. The referrals to Georgetown in the first four months of 2024 is 106. That tells you of the qualitative care [and] the difference in the qualitative care,” he pointed out.

Additional improvements have been observed in clinic attendance, with the hospital undergoing significant upgrades, including the construction of a new mortuary and the acquisition of laparoscopic surgery equipment. Surgical services have also expanded from limited hours to round-the-clock availability.

Despite these enhancements, President Ali acknowledged that the current facility can no longer keep pace with the demands of the growing regional economy or provide the level of care required.

“Now with this growth, we know that the West Demerara Hospital has now outgrown its time. It has outgrown what it was built for. It does not meet the modern, efficient, reliable needs of the citizens of Region Three,” he noted.

To address these deficiencies, the government is moving forward with plans for the new hospital, with tenders for the construction expected to be launched within the week. President Ali reaffirmed the government’s commitment to improving healthcare services.

“Every day, we wake up with a new mission…[and] a new drive. And that mission and drive is to make your life better. That mission and drive is to dedicate a bit more energy in getting the work done,” he asserted.