Guyana’s health care system to benefit from universal collaboration

– as Guyana to also partner with Middle East, Asia to develop world class health facilities- Singh

While much of Guyana’s most publicised collaboration in the health sphere has been with institutions and companies from North America and Europe, Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh has advised that the Government will also be partnering with companies in other parts of the world, in order to build an improved health sector.
During his participation at the recently concluded Guyana Energy Conference and Supply Chain Expo (GECSCE), the Finance Minister spoke about the budgetary allocation for healthcare. With the Government building a dozen regional hospitals, including six that will be completed this year, the Finance Minister told investors of the Government’s bold plans for the health sector.

“Our budget in 2025 allocates $153 billion for the healthcare system. The build out of hospitals. I think you heard about some of what we’re doing in that area too. Including partnership with companies from around the world. Companies from Europe, middle east, Asia, to build out world class health facilities. But also, again, to ensure universal access,” Dr Singh said.
“So that even in the most remote communities, digital technology can be deployed including in things like telemedicine, so that no matter where you live, you can be diagnosed using the best of technology and expertise. So that medical challenges can be identified and treated more efficiently. So, emphasis on telemedicine and population distribution in Guyana.”
Since 2020, the Ali-led Administration has invested billions of dollars to build the healthcare infrastructure across the country. One such investment is in the new West Demerara Regional Hospital (WDRH), which is being constructed to the tune of more than $11.4 billion, and will be completed in 2028.
The Government has had discussions with Northwell Health, 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. President Ali had said they will be working on building a scalable model of revamped emergency healthcare in every region.
In addition to Northwell, the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (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.
The Head of State had recently 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 has said that Guyana is also in discussion with Mount Sinai on rehabilitative care.
Then there is the €149 million Paediatric and Maternal Hospital, which is being built at Goedverwagting, East Coast Demerara (ECD). The Paediatric and Maternal Hospital was birthed from a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Guyana and Austria.
While the agreement had catered for another set of works, the PPP/C Government had amendments for the construction of this facility after entering office.
The EUR$149 million (Guy$31.9 billion) contract for the hospital was signed on June 8, 2022.
The project also marked Guyana’s first United Kingdom Export Credit Agency (UK ECA) financing and is being carried out in accordance with the International Federation of Consulting Engineers (FIDIC) Yellow Book standards, a standard contract where the design is carried out by the contractor.