Health Minister Dr Frank Anthony says Guyana has significantly expanded its medical imaging capabilities over the last several years through investments in diagnostic technology and international partnerships aimed at strengthening specialised healthcare services.
Speaking at the opening of the “Update on Medical Imaging in Guyana 2026” Continuing Medical Education (CME) conference on Saturday, Anthony said the large turnout of healthcare professionals reflected growing interest in advancing clinical expertise in the country.
According to a Ministry of Health statement, Anthony noted that attendance at similar seminars in previous years had been much lower, contrasting that experience with the packed auditorium at this year’s event.
A key component of the country’s efforts to strengthen medical imaging services, he said, has been its partnership with Canada’s McMaster University, which was formalised through a Memorandum of Understanding signed during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Anthony explained that the agreement replaced informal arrangements and created opportunities for Guyanese doctors to pursue specialised training overseas.
“The collaboration has already seen Guyanese doctors sent abroad to train in various disciplines, including radiology, pediatrics, surgery and vascular surgery, providing the high-level expertise needed to match the Ministry’s ongoing infrastructural boom,” he was quoted as saying.
The minister also reflected on the state of the country’s diagnostic imaging services several years ago, when the public health system relied primarily on a single functioning CT scanner at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC).
According to the ministry, CT scanners at the Bartica and New Amsterdam hospitals had become inoperable, with replacement parts no longer available from manufacturers.
Anthony said the government has since expanded access to the technology, adding seven new CT scanners to the public health system last year. These have been installed at the New Amsterdam Hospital and the newly constructed regional hospitals.
He further disclosed that the existing CT scanner at GPHC is being replaced with a new model as part of a wider upgrade of diagnostic services at the institution.
The minister said a new two-storey diagnostic and surgical facility is also under construction adjacent to the hospital’s Accident and Emergency Department. The facility is expected to house an additional CT scanner, a new MRI machine, digital mammography services and specialised urology equipment.
Anthony also praised officials from McMaster University for their continued support of Guyana’s healthcare sector, including assistance in developing breast cancer screening programmes.
He additionally commended staff of the Ministry of Health and GPHC for their efforts in improving patient care and expanding access to modern medical services across the country.
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