“Govt breaking barriers” with modern $831M polyclinic – President Ali

…as sod turned in Kitty/Campbellville

In a bold step toward revolutionising Guyana’s healthcare system, President Dr Irfaan Ali on Saturday turned the sod for the construction of a state-of-the-art $831 million polyclinic in Kitty/Campbellville, Georgetown.
This cutting-edge, two-storey facility, set to be built on the land of the former Campbellville post office, is said to be a direct reflection of the President’s vision for world-class healthcare access for all citizens.
The new facility will accommodate an extensive range of medical services, including general outpatient care, maternal and child health services, family planning, and chronic disease clinics for conditions such as diabetes and hypertension. Additionally, it will feature an asthma bay, X-ray services, physiotherapy, diabetic care, and a dental suite.

Speaking at the sod-turning ceremony, President Ali highlighted that another key benefit of polyclinics will be the ability to diagnose and treat conditions early, thereby preventing overcrowding at hospitals – something he emphasised that will lead to improved diagnostics and reduced long-term healthcare costs.
“How is it different from a regular health clinic? Well let me tell you, health clinics provide some care, polyclinics take it to the next level. Health clinics provide outpatient services, essential services like vaccinations, maternal care and basic treatment. And they do a great job at that, but polyclinics, they diagnose, they specialise, they prevent hospital overcrowding, very importantly. That’s the kind of healthcare system we are building,” he announced.
“From newborn check-ups to elder care, from routine screenings to life-saving treatments, we are ensuring that every Guyanese has access to the best possible care. Not just at some stages of life, but at every stage of life… We are breaking barriers. We are not just putting up walls. We are tearing down obstacles to quality healthcare. We are not just stirring the sod. We are constructing a better and stronger future for all,” the President said.
Moreover, the polyclinic will be fully digitised, with electronic patient records ensuring seamless healthcare delivery.

Emphasising the holistic nature of the initiative, the Head of State noted that the facility will be fully integrated into a telemedicine platform, linking local doctors with specialists from various countries.
“All of these polyclinics and clinics will be linked on a telemedicine platform that is supported by doctors here and doctors in our partnering institution, India, the US. So, we may have five radiologists in the country, but we will have access to 25 on a telemedicine platform that will be integrated with a global healthcare system, so that we can have second opinions. It supports timely intervention that supports saving lives. It is an important part of improved patient outcome. It is an essential part in information, in informed decision making,” the Head of State added.
Meanwhile, Health Minister Dr Frank Anthony echoed the President’s sentiments, stating that healthcare in Guyana is undergoing a significant transformation, with some 25 new health centres and health posts developed in just three years, and an additional 14 hospitals under construction.
On this point, he outlined Government’s strong focus on preventative care, urging citizens to adopt a culture of regular check-ups.
“People must be able to come in and get preventative care service. I know our population don’t like to come for check-ups. But we need to foster that culture of check-ups because when you come and you get your check-up, if something is wrong, we pick it up early and we’ll be able to address it so that you don’t develop complications,” he stressed.
“That is why the Government has a very strong programme now in community health. At every one of our community facility or health centre, health posts, we want to make sure that we can deliver good community health. And we have come up with a package of about 115 different interventions that we’ll be able to offer uniformly across all of our health centres and health posts in this country. Those interventions include being able to diagnose a number of infectious diseases and being able to offer those treatments right at the health facility,” Dr Anthony said.
Construction of the Kitty/Campbellville polyclinic commenced in February and is expected to be completed within 12 months, ushering in a new chapter for healthcare accessibility and excellence in Guyana.