Over 900 nursing assistants advance to final year of hybrid training programme

…as Guyana ramps up health workforce expansion
More than 900 nursing assistants across Guyana are now entering the final year of the Health Ministry’s pioneering Hybrid Training Programme—a major stride in the country’s ongoing efforts to strengthen its health workforce.
Health Minister Dr Frank Anthony made the announcement during the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation’s (GPHC) Annual Nursing Awards Ceremony on Monday, where he underscored the urgency of expanding and modernising Guyana’s nursing capacity amid global shortages and rising local demand.
Guyana’s three core nursing schools—in Georgetown, Linden, and New Amsterdam—previously produced only 200–250 registered nurses annually. However, the launch of the hybrid programme has allowed for a significant scale-up. Participants complete theoretical courses online and gain practical skills at simulation centres across the country. Currently, more than 1,500 persons are enrolled, and another 1,000 are expected to join this year.
Dr Anthony emphasised the initiative’s importance, particularly as Guyana accelerates construction on six new regional hospitals in Lima, Diamond, Enmore, Bath, Skeldon, and West Demerara, all of which will require trained medical personnel.
“Rather than cry about not having enough nurses, we have set about in a very systematic way to bring more people into the nursing profession,” Dr Anthony said. “We’ve created a clear career pathway for entry-level nursing assistants to become registered nurses, and ultimately, specialists in critical areas of care.”
“Our goal over the next two to three years is to train at least 6,000 registered nurses and we think by doing that we’ll have an adequate amount of nurses that would be able to serve not just at the Georgetown Public Hospital but at all the hospitals across this country,” he affirmed.
Back in April, a total of 864 nursing assistants graduated from the Hybrid Nursing Assistant Training Programme with an 80 per cent pass rate, given that 46 students graduated with distinction and 392 with credit.
Upon completion of the programme, these nurses are guaranteed jobs with a starting salary of $134,000 per month.
Other training projects
The Government’s investment in nursing also extends to international partnerships. Dr Anthony highlighted a new agreement with India’s Apollo Hospital and its online training platform, Medvarsity. Through this partnership, Guyanese nurses and doctors will access world-class upskilling in areas such as critical care, diabetes management, and robotic surgery—many of which will include practical fellowships in India.
“You can start out with a one-month programme, let’s say in diabetes care, and then once you complete that certificate, you then go on, complete the three months, complete the six months, and then you finish the fellowship. And at each stage, you will get accreditation for the work that you have done, both in some cases, both theoretical, and when you’re ready to do the practical component of some of this training, let’s say like in surgery, then you would be able to go to India, where you will have this additional training”.
“And you have a whole slew of programmes that are being offered. And some of these fellowships would go for a year, two years. I saw one that I think some of the surgeons here might definitely want to be part of, and that’s in robotic surgery… So, when we talk about investment, it’s not only investing in our nurses in terms of the, you know, training locally, but there are opportunities for you to train overseas as well, and to do some of the programmes online,” he said.