Regional pharmaceutical bonds to strengthen medicine supply – Dr Anthony

Guyanese are expected to benefit from faster access to medicines and medical supplies as the Ministry of Health strengthens its capacity to decentralise pharmaceutical distribution with the establishment of new regional bonds.

Minister of Health Dr Frank Anthony said the storage bonds in Lethem, Mabaruma, and Linden, along with those in Regions Two, Five and Six, are nearing completion.

The facilities are expected to improve inventory management, ensure a more reliable supply of pharmaceuticals and allow all health institutions to respond effectively to emergencies and increase patient demand.

“In the coming months, these bonds will be fully operational, and we can start utilising these facilities for storage and to supply health centres and hospitals within the regions,” the minister told the Department of Public Information (DPI) last Friday.

For residents living in riverine, rural and hinterland communities, the project is expected to lead to fewer medicine shortages and more timely access to essential drugs and medical supplies.

This also eliminates many of the logistical challenges that arise from regional health centres and hospitals waiting on resupplies from Georgetown.

The initiative marks a bold step in modernising Guyana’s healthcare supply chain, ensuring quality health care is not limited to infrastructure and medical personnel but also by a reliable system capable of delivering lifesaving medicines across the country. [DPI]