In 2022, a total of $16.1B has been budgeted to launch a major expansion in public health care facilities, Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh said moments ago during his presentation of National Budget 2022.
Of the amount allocated, $12.4B will be used for the design and construction of a state-of-the-art paediatric and maternal hospital, upgrading of the West Demerara and Bartica regional hospitals, and the construction of six modern regional hospitals at Anna Regina, Tuschen, Diamond, Enmore, Bath and No. 75 Village, Corentyne.
These regional hospitals are expected to catapult healthcare delivery beyond current levels by existing regional facilities as well as reduce the undue cost and burden of referrals to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), Dr Singh said.
A further $220M is budgeted to retrofit and equip the Festival City Polyclinic to provide services which will include x-ray, dental, laboratory and rehabilitation services. Further, a sum of $1 billion has been allocated for the upgrading of health centres across all Regions, to address critical interventions needed to improve the patient experience. Also in 2022, $2 billion has been budgeted for medical and non-medical equipment.
