Robotics to be part of Guyana’s modern healthcare system – Pres Ali

As Guyana works to build a healthcare system that is globally recognised, President Dr Irfaan Ali has pointed out, part of that modern medical service would be new technology such as robotics.

The Head of State was at the time speaking at the White Coat ceremony of the University of Guyana’s newly-graduated doctors. He told the graduates that they are entering the medical profession at an exciting time, since Government is taking a ‘hub and scope’ approach to healthcare management in Guyana by developing top-tier hospitals across the country, which would be supported by a series of health centres and health huts, especially in the hinterland.
“We’re investing in a new series of equipment, so that you will have the best possible tools available to help you in the future. And it’s not only to position our healthcare for our national needs. The long game is to position Guyana as an important medical hub globally that would offer services to the rest of the world and bring in foreign currency earnings,” he disclosed.

This, according to the Guyanese Leader, includes the country moving towards incorporating stem cell and robotics technologies into its healthcare delivery.
“Very soon, you will see a collaboration that would see stem cell technology fully in Guyana, not only from a research perspective, but from a practical perspective. Infrastructure, technology, specialty, and robotics. We are moving full speed ahead in bringing up-to-speed our medical system, to allow robotics to be a part of the medical care delivery,” he disclosed.
The President further outlined that this batch of graduating doctors, as well as those currently in the programme, have already started to benefit from this transition, having been forced to rely heavily on technology, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“There was a little light in the challenge of studying during COVID: because the direction in which the country is going is data-driven and science-driven, we’ve started telemedicine. So, you’re already perfect in Zoom classes; you’re already perfect at Zoom research; you’re already perfect at using Teams and all the other software. So, there was a little light in that [pandemic], because you were trained during those two years to use technology to overcome the challenges.”
This, the Head of State pointed out, would become a big part of the system of healthcare delivery in Guyana. In fact, he noted that even the Private Sector is investing heavily in ensuring that Guyana’s healthcare system is second to none.
Nevertheless, as they embark on this new phase of their careers, President Ali urged the newly-graduated doctors to ensure they maintain a balanced approach, and not to lose focus on the oath they took.
“You must not take it for granted… Attitude is extremely important to your success. Our attitude is the first thing patients will see… The way we carry ourselves, the way we speak to the patient, the way we relate with our coworkers, the way we relate with your team… In some professions, we get carried away that we’ve arrived… Let us not be among those who believe that they have arrived,” he admonished.
To this end, President Ali recommended to UG’s School of Medical Sciences, if there is none already, for students to undergo customer care and service training before they graduate to become doctors.
“People skills is essential in the success of your career,” he contended.

Further, the Head of State urged the graduating group to keep abreast with the changes constantly being made in the medical field around the world.
“As medical doctors, you have to keep up-to-date with your profession. You have to remember that you are part of a revolving profession that requires you to read continuously to advance yourselves,” the President stated.
Health Minister Dr Frank Anthony has charged the graduating doctors to be prepared to step up to health challenges. He posited that one of the most important rewards of being a doctor is being able to make a big difference.
“This [COVID-19] pandemic showed the big difference doctors can make when you need to keep people safe. And that’s the life in which you’re entering into; that’s what we’ll expect you to do. We don’t expect that when we have challenges, like pandemics and so forth, people would hide away. We want you to come to the front, because you were trained to do this and you must be able to come out and do this,” he noted.
Dr Anthony further stated, “This [COVID-19] pandemic that we’re going through, it’s not going be the last one. We’ve seen many other pandemics before, (but) this one has been a little bit more challenging. But believe me, there are going to be others that are coming down the road, and we are working right now to be better prepared.”
Among those efforts is to modernise Guyana’s healthcare system, and this not only includes improved medical infrastructure – as mentioned by the Head of State – but administrative enhancements that would see more efficient services being offered to citizens.
On this note, the Health Minister disclosed that works are already underway to develop legislation for electronic medical records (EMR) in Guyana. The EMR system is an electronic record of health-related information of a patient. It can facilitate workflow, and improve the quality of patient care and patient safety.