For generations, a serious illness often came with another burden for many Guyanese: the journey to Georgetown. Whether it was advanced diagnostic testing, specialist consultations or complex hospital care, the capital was where patients had to go.
That reality is beginning to change as new regional hospitals, expanded healthcare facilities and advanced medical technology are being introduced across the country.
The expansion comes as Guyana’s oil sector continues to generate new revenues from offshore production in the Stabroek Block, where ExxonMobil, Hess (owned Chevron) and CNOOC are developing multiple projects. The additional fiscal space created by the sector has supported increased public spending across areas such as healthcare infrastructure, medical equipment and technology.
In addition to the government’s investment of oil revenues, Hess has supported Guyana’s healthcare transformation through a partnership with the Ministry of Health and New York’s Mount Sinai Health System. Launched in 2022 with an initial commitment of nearly US$32 million and extended in 2025 under the Vision 2030 initiative, the collaboration is helping strengthen primary healthcare, modernize the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation, establish national centres of excellence for cancer and cardiovascular care, expand digital health systems, and train healthcare professionals. More than 40 Mount Sinai experts have worked with Guyanese counterparts as part of the initiative to build long-term capacity across the public health system.
Regional healthcare
Between 2020 and 2026, approximately US$3.38 billion (GY$704.3 billion) was allocated to Guyana’s health sector through national budgets.
A large share of the funding was directed toward regional healthcare, with new hospitals built to expand capacity and provide services that were previously limited outside Georgetown. Communities benefiting include Diamond and Enmore in Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica), Bath in Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice), Lima in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), De Kinderen in Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara), and Number 75 Village in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne).
These hospitals were designed with expanded medical capabilities, including:
- Intensive care units (ICU) – for patients requiring continuous monitoring and life-support treatment.
- High dependency units (HDU) – for patients needing close observation but not full intensive care.
- Neonatal intensive care units (NICU) – specialized care for premature and critically ill newborns.
- 24-hour emergency departments – providing around-the-clock emergency medical treatment.
- Operating theaters – equipped for surgical procedures and emergency operations.
- Modern laboratories – supporting faster and more advanced diagnostic testing.
- Diagnostic imaging services – including computed tomography (CT) scans, digital X-rays and ultrasound to improve diagnosis.
- Dental and optical services – providing oral health and vision care closer to patients’ communities.
The facilities are expected to reduce referrals to Georgetown for specialized care.
Bringing advanced care to existing hospitals
Investment did not stop with the construction of regional hospitals. Oil revenues have also financed major upgrades at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), Guyana’s main referral hospital.
Since 2020, government spending has supported new infrastructure, advanced diagnostic equipment and specialist services at the hospital. The most significant ongoing project is a US$4.80 million (GY$1 billion) medical imaging center, which will house the country’s first public-sector magnetic resonance imaging machine, two CT scanners, two cardiac catheterization laboratories, two mammography machines and an extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy machine for treating kidney stones.
The investment has been accompanied by an expansion in specialized procedures. Over the past several years, GPHC has introduced laparoscopic (minimally invasive) surgery, performed Guyana’s first chain kidney transplant, completed the country’s first scleral buckle eye surgeries, expanded robotic surgery, and carried out the world’s longest-distance telerobotic open-heart surgery in partnership with surgeons in India.
The hospital is also modernizing its laboratory and digital systems. Its pathology laboratory achieved ISO 15189 Plus accreditation, while electronic health records are being rolled out to digitize patient information and improve coordination of care.
Moving healthcare into the digital era
Budget 2026 allocated US$3.66 million (GY$764 million) for the implementation of electronic health records across the healthcare system. The program is expected to introduce electronic patient files, online appointment systems, digital medical histories, and information sharing between healthcare facilities. The same budget also announced plans for AI-assisted diagnostic systems and clinical decision-support tools to assist physicians.
For communities far from major hospitals, technology is expanding access to healthcare. Telemedicine services are being rolled out to more remote communities, allowing patients to consult specialists without travelling long distances. The program is expected to reach 50 additional remote communities across Guyana.
While investment in Guyana’s healthcare system has accelerated, staffing remains a challenge. The GPHC reported a shortage of more than 700 nurses at the end of 2024, and that figure has since grown. As new regional hospitals come on stream, additional healthcare workers will also be needed to staff those facilities.
