Budget 2026 strengthens health care from birth to old age – Health Minister

Health Minister Dr Frank Anthony says Budget 2026 strengthens Guyana’s health-care system at every stage of life, from maternal and child health to services for adults and the elderly.
His comments came as he participated in the third day of the National Budget debate on Wednesday.
With regard to healthcare, Anthony argued that the $1.558 trillion budget reflects a deliberate life-cycle approach, combining prevention, early detection and treatment, as he countered claims from the opposition benches that the budget offers little direct benefit to citizens.
Focusing first on maternal and infant health, Dr Anthony told the House that approximately 14,000 expectant mothers benefit annually from antenatal care under the public health system. He said the Government has also constructed 11 maternity waiting homes across Region One (Barima-Waini), Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni), Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni) and Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo), providing about 100 beds to allow expectant mothers from remote communities to remain close to hospitals ahead of delivery.
He noted that every baby born now qualifies for a $100,000 baby grant, while mothers delivering at public facilities also receive postnatal hampers containing essential care items for both mother and child. According to the Health Minister, nearly 3000 such hampers are distributed annually.
Turning to early childhood care, Dr Anthony said Guyana’s vaccination programme now provides access to more than 18 antigens, protecting children against preventable diseases. He added that routine screening has been expanded at nursery, primary, and secondary levels, allowing early detection of hearing, vision, and dental issues.
Anthony noted that over the past two years, 18,374 nursery school children have been screened, while 55,717 primary school pupils and 6508 secondary school students have undergone age-appropriate health checks. He also highlighted the introduction of a universal laboratory voucher, which has enabled screening for congenital conditions such as sickle-cell anaemia, benefitting more than 13,000 children nationwide.
Adolescents and young people, Dr Anthony said, are also benefiting from expanded preventative programmes. He pointed to the rollout of a 9-valent HPV vaccine for both boys and girls aged nine to 15, noting that 26,000 children received the vaccine last year, reducing future risks of cervical and other HPV-related cancers. He also referenced the distribution of menstrual hygiene products to approximately 15,000 teenage girls annually.
Addressing adult health, the Minister said Budget 2026 supports increased disposable income through a higher income-tax threshold and provides for the continuation of a $100,000 cash grant for every Guyanese aged 18 years and over. He added that eye-care programmes introduced over the past two years have allowed more than 175,000 people to receive free eye examinations, with over 160,000 benefiting from vouchers to assist with the purchase of spectacles.
Dr Anthony also outlined expanded services for persons with hearing impairment, noting that more than 4000 individuals have received hearing aids through the public system at no cost, replacing a previous reliance on external donations.
On women’s health, the Minister said cervical cancer screening has been expanded nationwide, with more than 20,800 women screened over the past two years. He added that mammography services are now available in Linden, New Amsterdam, Suddie, and Lethem, with over 10,000 women already benefiting. Diagnostic support has also been strengthened through local pathology services, eliminating the need for costly overseas testing.
Men’s health initiatives, Dr Anthony added, now include widespread prostate-specific antigen testing, with more than 36,000 men screened and over 1300 biopsies conducted. He noted that early detection has allowed hundreds of men to enter treatment programmes without bearing the high costs previously associated with such procedures.
Anthony said Budget 2026 also reinforces long-term system strengthening through expanded chronic-disease clinics for hypertension and diabetes, the introduction of the HEARTS protocol in partnership with the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and the World Health Organization (WHO), and continued investment in electronic health records. He added that workforce development remains a priority, with more than 2200 health professionals graduating last year and a further 2800 expected in 2026.
Minister Anthony maintained that the health allocations in Budget 2026 represent tangible benefits rather than abstract policy, insisting that the Government is delivering a healthcare system that supports Guyanese “from birth to old age.”