New West Demerara Regional Hospital to Enhance Healthcare Services
In a significant move towards enhancing healthcare across Guyana, President Dr. Irfaan Ali recently presided over the sod-turning ceremony for the new West Demerara Regional Hospital, a modern facility set to accommodate 150 beds. This project represents an investment of $11.4 billion in Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara) and is to be located in Vreed-en-Hoop, West Coast Demerara.
During the ceremony, President Ali emphasized that the new hospital will diverge from the traditional open-ward system, aiming to improve transparency and accountability between staff and patients. The facility will feature a range of critical services, including an accident and emergency unit, intensive care unit, maternity and delivery wards, four operating theatres, general ward, pediatric ICU, and neonatal facilities.
In addition to inpatient services, the hospital will offer outpatient services such as endoscopy, Ear Nose and Throat (ENT) clinics, dermatology, ophthalmology, internal medicine, and gynecology, among others. “All of these services will come with this new hospital,” President Ali remarked, underscoring the comprehensive nature of the healthcare that will be provided.
Highlighting the importance of world-class healthcare infrastructure, President Ali noted that the sod-turning signifies a step towards achieving this goal. He pointed out that significant investments have been made in healthcare since 2020, a commitment that the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) government intends to continue.
Minister of Health Dr. Frank Anthony, who also spoke at the ceremony, regarded the event as historically significant. He reiterated President Ali’s vision of establishing a world-class healthcare system, supported by adequate resources.
Dr. Anthony outlined key features of the new facility, including digital imaging services with advanced equipment such as a CT scan, mammography, and MRI machines. Notably, the hospital will house its own catheterization laboratory (cath lab), allowing for minimally invasive heart procedures. This development means that patients experiencing heart emergencies will receive immediate evaluation and treatment on-site, eliminating the need for travel to Georgetown for such services.
He concluded by stating that the government’s investment in transformational projects like the new hospital is poised to significantly improve healthcare quality in the region, enabling citizens to enjoy the prosperity the country is experiencing. “We want people to live long so that they can enjoy this prosperity. That is why we are investing so much in your health,” Dr. Anthony affirmed.
