Vision outlined for developing Guyana as region’s premier health tourism hub

President Irfaan Ali has detailed a vision to position Guyana as a leading health tourism destination in the region, with a healthcare system designed not only to serve Guyanese citizens but also to attract patients from across the region.
Speaking at a recent public meeting on Wednesday evening, the head of state emphasised that the Government’s investment in the health sector is aimed at creating the best medical system in the region, one that can contribute to both economic growth and job creation.
“We are building a healthcare system to be a contributor to economic wealth and job creation,” the president stated.
“We are not just creating infrastructure to manage talent but to harness it and to build a healthy ecosystem that will encourage health tourism and medical tourism – positioning our country as the destination.”
President Ali explained that the vision involves developing facilities and services that will make Guyana a go-to location for a wide range of medical treatments, from advanced procedures like cardiac surgery and stroke rehabilitation to cosmetic and plastic surgeries.
“Whether you want cardiac surgery, stroke rehabilitation, a nose job, a face job, plastic surgery, or cosmetic procedures – whatever you want – Guyana will be the destination for those services. That is where the world is going. That is the future,” he said.
According to the President, this strategy will require state-of-the-art infrastructure, world-class medical talent, and a robust ecosystem that supports both local and international patients. He stressed that the approach is part of a broader national plan to diversify Guyana’s economy and create sustainable industries that generate long-term benefits for the population.
The move to promote health tourism builds on Guyana’s ongoing transformation in infrastructure, investment, and human capital, with the Government aiming to make the country a competitive player in global medical services.
In 2020, this publication reported that Guyana still had a long way to go in relation to the development of its medical services; however, there are several doctors within the healthcare system that are actively working to expand their knowledge and bring world-class services to the Guyanese people.
Notably, these doctors are performing procedures that one never knew that Guyana had the capability to offer.