President Dr. Irfaan Ali’s Announcement on Cancer Care and Healthcare Modernization in Guyana
In an effort to enhance cancer treatment and care, President Dr. Irfaan Ali announced that Guyana will initiate the establishment of a modern oncology center this year, with support from the Mount Sinai Health System based in the United States. This announcement was made during the sod-turning ceremony for the new $11.4 billion West Demerara Regional Hospital, held on Friday afternoon.
During his address, President Ali revealed that Hess Corporation, a prominent US energy company and partner in the oil-rich Stabroek Block offshore Guyana, has committed to continue funding Guyana’s collaboration with Mount Sinai for an additional three years. This partnership will facilitate the development of the oncology center, which aims to provide comprehensive cancer care, including both diagnostic and treatment facilities.
In his remarks, President Ali emphasized the importance of this initiative: “They will be coming in to help us in the building out of a modern oncology centre that will treat cancer. We’re not only looking at diagnostic but building facilities for treatment,” he stated. The oncology center, which specializes in cancer diagnosis, treatment, and research, is set to begin construction this year, with an expected completion date in 2027.
Additionally, President Ali mentioned ongoing discussions with Mount Sinai regarding rehabilitative care, noting that many hospital beds are occupied by patients who do not require hospitalization but need rehabilitation services. “For the ordinary person, that is managing a stroke patient, for example…” he elaborated. A team from Mount Sinai is scheduled to visit in April to explore modular approaches to establishing rehabilitative care centers across the country.
These initiatives are part of the Guyana Government’s broader strategy to modernize and digitize healthcare services. Since 2020, the Ali Administration has invested significantly in enhancing healthcare infrastructure nationwide.
The new West Demerara Regional Hospital, projected to cost over $11.4 billion, will feature more than 150 beds, four operating theatres, and various facilities, including Accident and Emergency (A&E), Intensive Care Unit (ICU), general and pediatric wards. It will also provide a wide range of medical services such as dermatology, ophthalmology, internal medicine, dialysis, gynecology, ultrasound, cardiology, as well as advanced imaging technologies like MRI, CT scans, angiography, and mammography.
President Ali highlighted the necessity for world-class healthcare infrastructure, stating, “We have to have world-class infrastructure, and today, what you’re seeing is another representation of that world-class infrastructure that we’re building to support the healthcare system.” He also emphasized the importance of equipping healthcare facilities with state-of-the-art diagnostic equipment.
Furthermore, the President announced a plan to integrate health management and patient management systems across the various health centers and hospitals in Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara). This integrated system, facilitated through digital health and digitization, will enable a control room at the new hospital to link all health centers, posts, and hospitals on a common platform.
“This platform will be available for both the private and public health sectors 24/7,” he assured, noting that it would connect with national platforms and international healthcare providers, including Northwell and Mount Sinai, to ensure that local doctors have access to specialized services for informed decision-making.
With these developments, President Ali aims to fully integrate Guyana into the global healthcare system, pooling medical talent and resources to enhance the overall healthcare delivery in the country.
