Over 600 treated for coronary diseases at GPHC in 2024 – Dr Anthony

In a remarkable sign of progress in Guyana’s public health system, over 600 patients received free artery stent procedures for coronary disease at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) in 2024; a massive jump from just 39 procedures in 2019, Health Minister Dr Frank Anthony has revealed.
Speaking at a health partnership event at the Marriott Hotel earlier in the past week, Dr Anthony said the procedure, which opens blocked arteries and prevents heart attacks, blood clots, and heart failure, has become one of the hospital’s most transformational life-saving services.

“This programme has been very transformational, because, coming from 2019 when we were only doing 39 patients in a given year, [we’re] now doing 600 and exceeding that, and starting to make these services available- it’s changing lives, its saving lives, and that’s the trajectory in which we wanna go,” Dr Anthony said.
According to Dr Anthony, the rapid increase in capacity was made possible through robust training programmes and continued investment in public health infrastructure. One of the major advancements was the installation of a new catheterisation laboratory (CATH Lab), which enhances diagnostic precision for patients needing cardiovascular intervention.
With the stenting procedure now widely available, patients are typically discharged within 48 hours, allowing for quicker recovery and easing hospital burdens.
While much of the advanced cardiology care has been based in Georgetown, Dr. Anthony announced that the Government is actively working to decentralise services.
“In cardiology, while a lot of this has been centred at the Georgetown Public Hospital, what we also want to do is decentralise these services. So, somebody getting a heart attack in Berbice doesn’t have to travel all the way to come to Georgetown to get the services we just talked about. We would like to see these services being located in Region Six as well,” the Minister said.
Just a few days ago, President Dr Irfaan Ali sounded the alarm on the country’s mounting cardiovascular crisis, revealing that Guyana has the highest cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality rate in the Americas, with a staggering 525 deaths per 100,000 people — a rate 2.5 times higher than that of Canada.
“Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death in Guyana. In fact, our cardiovascular disease rates are among the highest in the entire Americas…Today, we have the opportunity to invest in totality. So, the prevention, the detection, and the intervention can all go seamlessly together. This is not the path we want to remain on. This is not a legacy we want to leave for our children. If you are serious about guaranteeing better health outcomes for Guyanese citizens, we must tackle this crisis head on. And not just with words, but with action,” President Ali had stated.
Beyond infrastructure, the Government’s strategy emphasises public health education and lifestyle changes. Ali called for a cultural shift around early screening, particularly among men, criticising the stigma that prevents many from seeking examinations.