Over 250 Guyanese to be trained to manage digital health platforms – Anthony

As Guyana moves towards a digital health pathway, more than 250 Guyanese are expected to be trained as Health Informational Systems and Technology (HIST) technicians, to implement, manage and maintain a national Electronic Health Record (EHR) system.
Guyana’s healthcare sector is undergoing significant improvements, with the Government leveraging technology to digitise medical records. The Ministry of Health has contracted the United Kingdom (UK)-based company RioMed Limited, at a cost of US$3.3 million, to design, supply, and install the electronic records system.
The EHR is a comprehensive collection of a patient’s health history within the healthcare system. Phase one of the project will begin at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) and its satellite clinics. After successful implementation, the EHR system will extend to other health institutions across Guyana.
On Wednesday, the national HIST Workforce Development Programme was launched, as a collaboration between the Ministry of Health and United States (US)-based Mount Sinai, with funding by the US$100 million Greater Guyana Initiative (GGI), to train a cohort of local digital health technicians.

Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony, explained that as Government moves towards implementing an electronic health records system, it has recognised the need for trained professionals to manage this digital platform.
“We might have the best system in the world, but if the people are not going to use it, then we got a problem. And so, to address this issue of how we get people to use it, that’s where this project comes in. Because, if something goes wrong with the software, we want somebody, rather than have a frustrated doctor or a nurse, and they’ll abandon the thing completely; we want them to be able to call somebody who can come and help them to resolve their problem,” the Minister noted.
According to Dr Anthony, the Health Ministry will absorb this first cohort of HIST professionals for its newly established digital department.
While the national EHR system will first be rolled out at GPHC, the intention is to integrate all the health facilities onto the digital platform and as such, persons from all 10 regions will undergo this HIST training.
During her presentation at the launch event executive director of Mount Sinai-Guyana, Dr Rachel Vreeman, highlighted that Mount Sinai will be establishing a new Guyana Digital Health Training Institute, this new institution, she noted, will be key in upskilling the local workforce.
“We are going to be establishing a new Guyana Digital Health Training institute; this new digital health training institute is going to be critical for training up the workforce the human resources that Guyana needs to support this new digital health initiative.”

In addition to this HIST training programme being available to citizens from all ten regions, it will also be free.
GGI Lead, Alicia Bess-Anderson, reaffirmed GGI’s commitment towards supporting local development.
“The HIST is one of the several impactful initiatives that GGI is supporting, which demonstrates our unwavering commitment to advancing Guyana’s growth and development, under this transformational programme over 250 HIST workers will be trained to implement manage and maintain the national Electronic Health Record System,” she stated.
GGI is a partnership between the Stabroek Block co-venturers ExxonMobil Guyana, Hess Guyana Exploration, CNOOC Petroleum Guyana, and the People of Guyana. This collaboration invests in local communities, develops the local workforce, and builds human capacity.
By advancing education and improving healthcare, the partnership contributes to sustainable economic diversification, supporting a prosperous and growing Guyana.