– Building Guyana’s future healthcare workforce
Guyana is laying the foundation for a stronger, self-sufficient healthcare system with the construction of two state-of-the-art health training complexes that will dramatically expand opportunities for medical education and professional training outside of Georgetown.
As the country continues to invest heavily in new hospitals, advanced medical technologies and expanded healthcare services, the Ministry of Health is now focusing on another critical pillar of healthcare transformation, developing the skilled workforce needed to sustain those investments for generations to come.
Minister of Health Dr Frank Anthony revealed that major health training complexes in New Amsterdam in Region Six and Suddie in Region Two are nearing completion and will serve as regional centres of excellence for healthcare education, research and professional development.
The New Amsterdam complex is expected to be ready within the next month, while works on the Suddie facility are progressing steadily and are expected to be completed in the coming months.
These facilities will provide modern classrooms, training laboratories and learning spaces designed to accommodate a growing number of students pursuing careers in healthcare.
The government has secured partnerships with the University of Guyana and the University of the West Indies (UWI), creating unprecedented opportunities for students to access internationally recognised programmes closer to home.
“Apart from the ministry’s training programmes going there, we have been discussing with the University of Guyana to offer a number of their medical programmes at that facility,” the minister stated. “We have also been speaking with the University of the West Indies, and that facility would also be the host of a University of the West Indies pharmaceutical programme.”
The initiative is expected to reduce the burden on students who often have to relocate to Georgetown or pursue costly overseas education to access specialised training opportunities.
In another major boost for accessibility, dormitories are being constructed alongside both training complexes to accommodate students travelling from hinterland, riverine and rural communities.