Emergency healthcare to be revamped across Guyana – Pres Ali

– says Govt in discussions with NY based Northwell Health

The People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government will be embarking on a nation-wide revamp of Guyana’s emergency healthcare system, an announcement made by President Dr. Irfaan Ali, who noted that a task force will be tackling this issue.
The Head of State was at the time addressing the country on his Government’s plans to revolutionise Guyana’s healthcare. Much of these plans will involve collaboration with Guyana’s international partners since he pointed out, there are constraints when it comes to human resource in specialised areas.
“We understand the constraint of limited human resource assets in areas of specialisation. That is why we’re partnering with the best, so that our telemedicine programme can be a global telemedicine programme that fits into leading institutions like Mount Sinai, Northwell and other institutions in India. And that has already started.”
According to President Ali, they have had discussions, for instance with Northwell, on improving the emergency healthcare in the country.

Northwell Health is a non-profit integrated healthcare service that is considered New York’s largest healthcare provider. He explained that they will be working on building a scalable model of revamped emergency healthcare in every region.
“We understand also that the national emergency healthcare system- that we have to invest in this. So, very soon we’re going to put together a team, to look at ways in which we can enhance emergency healthcare. You know, right now you go to Georgetown hospital and other hospitals for emergency healthcare.”
“We’re working now on looking at a scalable model, a world class scalable model. Emergency, world class model. We’ve had discussions with Northwell for example, as to a scalable model that is applicable to Guyana, in which we can have an emergency healthcare diagnostics centre in every single region, supporting the regional hospital and delivering these very essential and key services.”
Mount Sinai Health System
In addition to Northwell, the PPP/C Government has also been collaborating with the United States (US)-based Mount Sinai Health System. With their support, Guyana will commence work this year to establish a modern oncology centre here to enhance cancer treatment and care.
This was according to President Ali at the sod-turning ceremony for the new $11.4 billion West Demerara Regional Hospital (WDRH) on Friday last.
During his remarks, the Head of State disclosed that US energy major, Hess Corporation – one of the partners operating in the oil-rich Stabroek Block offshore Guyana, has agreed to continue financing Guyana’s partnership with Mount Sinai for another three years.

An oncology centre is a medical facility that specialises in the diagnosis, treatment and research of cancer. Construction of the oncology centre in Guyana will start this year, and it is slated to be completed by 2027.
In addition to the oncology facility, President Ali also disclosed that Guyana is also in discussion with Mount Sinai on rehabilitative care.
This is part of efforts by the Guyana Government to modernise and digitise healthcare delivery in Guyana. Since 2020, the Ali-led Administration has invested billions of dollars to build the healthcare infrastructure across the country. The most recent is the new WDRH, which is being constructed to the tune of more than $11.4 billion, and will be completed in 2028.
When it comes to diagnostic services, a comprehensive cervical cancer screening initiative was launched last year, providing sufficient data to guide public healthcare expenditure. So far, 12,000 women between the ages of 21 and 65 have undergone cervical cancer testing, with results indicating a 17 per cent positive rate, translating to over 2,040 confirmed cases.
For men, prostate cancer screening has also expanded significantly. In 2024, over 13,688 Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) tests were conducted, revealing that 19 per cent of the tested individuals had elevated PSA levels. Of those, 536 underwent biopsies, with a staggering 38 per cent testing positive for prostate cancer.
Eye care has also seen substantial improvements. In 2024 alone, 68,320 eye tests were completed, and nearly 55,000 individuals received free prescription glasses. Furthermore, cataract surgeries have surged from just 16 procedures between 2015 and 2020 to 3,665 surgeries at Port Morant Hospital in the past four years.
The Guyana Government has also been enhancing its telemedicine initiative, to transform it into a world-class system integrated with international healthcare providers. The move forms part of the Government’s holistic efforts to modernise the healthcare sector through technology.
Currently, 84 telemedicine sites are in operation, particularly in hinterland communities. These sites are equipped with audio and video technology and integrated medical devices that enable clinicians to evaluate, diagnose, and treat patients remotely.