US$15 Million Approved for Containment of COVID-19
Michel Chebat
The Ministry of Health also plans to hire additional human resources such as nurses, doctors, specialist, health staff, support staff for deployment to all regional and community hospitals. Health and Wellness Minister, Michel Chebat says that one of the key areas his ministry will focus on is the purchase of medical and pharmaceutical supplies such as portable ultrasound, infusion pumps, and oxygen. The ministry will also be seeking approval for overtime for its frontline workers. According to Minister Chebat, Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, John Briceño, has approved a fifteen-million-dollar injection into the health system to fight COVID-19. That is a significant amount of money for the Briceño Administration since the last U.D.P. administration left the government cash-strapped. So where is the money coming from? Chebat says that is a question for PM Briceño.
Michel Chebat, Minister of Health and Wellness
“On Tuesday, the proposal for surge capacity and the containment of the COVID-19 was presented to the Cabinet and an approval was given for the injection of fifteen million dollars into the system. We also intent to hire additional laboratory technicians, lab aides, data entry clerks. We will hire additional contract tracers. There will be active surveillance by the Ministry of Health teams at private businesses. And we will urgently procure supplies and consumables for the extraction machines as well as an additional extraction machine. In terms of addressing the surge capacity for our hospitals, we intend to hire additional doctors, nurses, specialist support staff for deployment to all of our regions and community hospitals. We will seek approval of overtime for all our central staff, for general practitioners, registered nurses, nursing assistants, midwives, operating room staff and specialist. Approvals will be sought for increase oxygen procurement due to the increase demand as of the result of COVID-19. On average two tanks per patient for day is being used. Approval for the additional medical equipment and supplies that include will be sought and that is going to be limited to portable ultrasound, infusion pumps, patient’s monitors, thermometers and hospital consumables.”
Reporter
“Where is this money coming from? Will the ministry be receiving in parts and how will that fifteen million dollars be divided and spent?”
Michel Chebat
“Thank you very much for your question. Cabinet has approved the fifteen million dollars and so this will be coming through the Ministry of Finance and as we have indicated through our presentation the funds are going to be spread in a wide variety of areas.”
Reporter
“Specifically where is that money coming from? Are you, let me not use the phrase that’s in my mind currently, but is it borrowing? Is it taking from other portfolios? Where exactly is it coming from?”
Michel Chebat
“I believe that is a question better directed to the Ministry of Finance because they are the ones who are going to be charge in finding the funds for us.”
