But that's not the only project under the ministry's eye. We also asked Bernard about the budgeted proposal for a MAJOR central medical store facility. He explained that it is no longer feasible for them to continue renting to house pharmaceuticals and supplies, and there is so much more that they would be able to do with adequate space.
Kevin Bernard, Minister of Health & Wellness
"The central medical store, that's of course, as you know, I had said this, I think it was two budgets ago, and I believe I repeated that in the last budget presentation, that the plan is that we want to ensure that there's, a Central Medical Store facility that will be able to adequately house our pharmaceutical products and medical supplies. Right now, we are renting from all over the place. And it is difficult to have a more, channeled, source of, supplies and distribution, processing. And so what is happening there apart from just a facility, we are going to improve that with proper inventory systems. We are going to improve that, with better distribution processes. And that will ensure that we are able to then track inflows and outflows much easier, as opposed to having suppliers holding certain stock at their own premises. We are going to minimise that because much more of the bulk products then can come today to the Central Medical Stores. The staffing will be then in one location. So there's a there's a lot of different reasons why we chose to ensure that we have that. Again, bear in mind that when you look at Belmopan, the future plan is that the new facility, the new tertiary facility will be right around the corner, and that will also be in much closer proximity and access to the hospital at the same time. But we are working on a proper, centralised system so that we can ensure the efficiency, and the, the accuracy of our processes that we need to, to improve. I have always said this that, when I took over this ministry I am I am very much interested in digital transformation. And part of digital transformation requires that you put in the systems that are needed. Yes.The BHIS has been functioning for its purposes but we need a proper central medical store that will have the best, the best inventory system. So we could have a good distribution process that the ministry can manage and we can track progress."
There has been no disclosure of the contractor - who we understand is also a pharmaceutical supplier - or the quantum of the contract. We will be following up.
