Health sector investments can see reverse of brain drain in Guyana – Anthony

…as Region 3 now equipped with new medical hub

Residents of Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara) will now have access to dialysis treatments, urgent care, podiatry, radiology, and dental care among other services as the privately owned Olmac Medical Hub in Vreed-en-Hoop has opened its doors.
Delivering remarks at the ribbon cutting ceremony Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony emphasised the importance of quality healthcare, acknowledging the challenges posed by limited resources and the migration of skilled professionals.
Dr Anthony further said that investments like these could bring back talented individuals to Guyana to not only deliver healthcare but also share their medical knowledge he believes that this would uplift the quality of care, creating a positive impact on the community.

“But I think with these types of investments, we are now changing what was a brain drain to a brain gain, where persons are coming back not only offering good quality health care but also would involve in teaching which I think is very fundamental, because we need excellent clinical mentors to help our doctors and nurses so that we can lift the quality of care that were offering to patients,” he said.
Additionally, the minister noted that the new facility aligns with the government’s plans to expand the health sector. The new medical hub will also feature telemedicine in its operations, which the minister pointed out is a strategy that the government has already introduced and continues to expand in the public health sector. According to Dr Anthony, telemedicine is a two-way real-time interactive communication between a patient and healthcare provider through digital means. It is supported by audio and video equipment and integrated medical devices that allows clinicians to evaluate, diagnose, and treat patients remotely. Currently telemedicine has already been expanded to 25 hospitals, and the government plans to further expand it to more than 50 sites across the hinterland, riverine, and remote villages.
Meanwhile, also delivering remarks at the ribbon cutting ceremony was the founder of OLMAC Medical Hub, Philip McPherson who expressed his heartfelt appreciation to Minister Anthony for making this investment possible in Guyana. McPherson, who hails from El Dorado, Berbice moved to the United States to pursue his dream of becoming a physician. However, despite continuing his practice in the United States, McPherson had a strong desire to lend his skills in his home country. He highlighted that the motivation behind this endeavor stemmed from recognising the significant lack of dialysis care and treatment in the country, driven by a commitment to providing the best possible care to dialysis patients in Guyana. He further expressed gratitude to his friends and family for their support in acquiring the necessary equipment and establishing the centre.
In a touching moment, McPherson announced that the centre, when construction first began in January 2022, was initially named OLMAC Urgent Medical Care Guyana, but now it would be renamed the Vibert Amsterdam Memorial Dialysis Centre in honor of the first patient who was scheduled for treatment, and unfortunately passed away in April 2024, along with McPherson’s parents.
Modelled after the Brookdale Hospital Medical Centre in Brooklyn this privately owned health facility will provide medical services Monday through Friday from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm and will significantly improve patient care in region three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara).