25 medical professionals graduate with Masters Certificate in hospital leadership

Twenty-five senior leaders and executive heads of hospitals and health centres across the country were on Sunday each awarded their Masters Certificate in Hospital Leadership, following a nine-month course facilitated by the Health Ministry and Canada-based Schulich ExecEd, an extension of the Schulich School of Business at York University.
This programme was customised for Guyana’s hospital administrators and was aimed at providing them with the necessary interpersonal skills and hands-on business tools to improve management, leadership, and service delivery skills at all levels.
During the ceremony, held at the Pegasus Hotel in Georgetown, Health Minister Dr Frank Anthony noted that this initiative is much needed, as the sector continues to transform. He added that the graduates can now operate efficiently within their respective regions, with the consistent support of the Ministry.
He also highlighted that, with the expansion of services being provided, the hinterland areas would be able to benefit from services being offered on the coastland.

“We have a loan from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) that we will use to develop the hinterland hospitals. So, right now, we’re looking to develop those in Lethem, Kato, and Kamarang, so that every region in Guyana will have upgraded services; and whatever service is being done on the coastland and can’t get in the hinterland, you will have when the upgrade is complete, whether infrastructure wise or equipment,” Dr. Anthony has said.
Meanwhile, Canadian High Commissioner Mark Berman has said this programme would aid in maintaining sustainability within the health sector in Guyana.
“I’ve noted that the Health Ministry has embarked on an aggressive campaign to transform the health sector with the construction and upgrade of several health facilities, including the much-anticipated Maternal and Pediatrics Hospital and the development and expansion of pediatrics care and services in the hinterland. This programme will surely complement those efforts to ensure the sustainability of these needed infrastructures”, Berman has said.
The Ministry’s Director General, Dr Vishwa Mahadeo, who graduated as valedictorian, expressed heartfelt gratitude to the Government of Guyana, the Health Ministry, York University, and other partners for the opportunity, and said the programme would help the Ministry to deliver the quality of health care needed.
Also present were Programme Director Dr Susan Lieff; President of York University, Robert Lynn (virtual); Chief Medical Officer Dr Narine Singh; the Board of Governors of York University; Dr Narendra Singh; Public Services Minister Sonia Parag, and other staff from the various entities.
Last year, this programme was launched in collaboration with Schulich ExecEd as part of the latter’s contribution to the upward development of the country’s healthcare delivery.
The certification supports the Canadian university’s commitment to advancing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs), particularly UN SDG Three, which speaks to good health and well-being; and UN SDG Four, which refers to quality education.