The Health Ministry is moving to further expand its telemedicine programme across several regions to ensure equitable access to healthcare services.
Health Minister Dr Frank Anthony revealed this while speaking during the Budget in Focus programme where he delved into the Health Ministry’s plans to expand telemedicine in Guyana.
Telemedicine is the practice of providing medical care to patients remotely, using technology to connect patients and healthcare providers.
The Government has already introduced over 50 telemedicine sites in various hinterland regions across Guyana, with plans to expand this service across Regions One (Barima-Waini); Four (Demerara-Mahaica); Five (Mahaica-Berbice); Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni); Eight (Potaro-Siparuni); Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo), and Ten (Upper Demerara-Berbice).
Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony
“So currently, we have 89 sites in and around these regions. First of all, we want to expand that, so we’re hoping that we can double that. That’s one of the things we’ll be working on.”
According to the Health Minister, this expansion will foster improvement in the health Ministry’s internet-enabled devices to facilitate remote diagnoses.
In fact, the expansion will also provide for the increase in telepathology.
“In addition to that, the things that we do using telemedicine include video consultations. At each of these sites, we have a number of internet-enabled devices, so you can be 500 kilometres away and contact one of the doctors at Georgetown Public Hospital (GPHC). They’ll be able to see your records in real time or perform an ultrasound.”
To this end, he revealed that remote progress will be achieved.
“So, by doing that, we’re able to make remote diagnoses, and if the patient is critical, we can send in a medevac to bring that person out. It serves both to improve the quality of medicine that we can practice remotely. That’s one.”
By doubling the efforts of telemedicine in Guyana, it can also help with communication for more people. “It can help us to improve communication so if we have to do emergency medevacs and so forth, we have a reliable way of communicating. And three, we are using it to provide education. As another ancillary service, anyone from the community can come to our facilities and access internet connections.”
Meanwhile, the Minister revealed that they have also been doing telepathology and have recorded a decrease in the waiting time for diagnoses through remote area testing. If replicated in other regions, this can save numerous lives.
“We also do telepathology. We have been able to reduce the waiting time for a diagnosis. As of last year, we have moved that from three months to now between three days to seven days. That’s an improvement because think about somebody having a biopsy and having to wait three months to know whether this is cancerous or not.”
He added, “There’s a lot of anxiety waiting that long, so by reducing the waiting period, I think that’s helping people understand what is going on with them and feel more confident.”
The telemedicine programme was officially launched in 2022, with four Amerindian communities in Region Nine – Masakenari, Nappi, Yupukari, and Parikawarinau – piloting the programme.
The government of Guyana has budgeted $143.2 billion in the 2025 National Budget for the expansion and modernisation of the health sector, with a significant portion of the allocation earmarked for the purchase of drugs and infrastructural upgrades.
