The Ministry of Health on Saturday moved ahead with plans for a new regional hospital in Bartica, marking the occasion with a sod-turning ceremony for the modern medical facility in Region Seven.
The hospital, which is expected to take about two years to complete, is part of the government’s wider programme to upgrade the country’s health sector and improve access to advanced care outside Georgetown.
Addressing the ceremony, Minister of Health Dr. Frank Anthony said the project represents an important step in the continued strengthening of Guyana’s healthcare system, particularly in the wake of lessons learnt during the COVID-19 pandemic.
He said the administration has been making major investments in public health since 2020, including the construction of close to 25 health centres and health posts across the country.
The minister also pointed to the commissioning of six new regional hospitals in Lima, De Kinderen, Diamond, Enmore, Bath and Number 75 Village, all of which he said are now fully operational and staffed by trained medical personnel, including specialists.
According to Dr. Anthony, the decision was made to build an entirely new hospital in Bartica rather than attempt to upgrade the existing one, following assessments of what would best serve the area over the long term.
He said the new site covers about 10 acres, giving room for future expansion while also improving access for patients and strengthening emergency response capacity, including easier access to the nearby airstrip for medical evacuations.
Dr. Anthony said the completed hospital will allow residents of Bartica and nearby communities to receive a higher level of specialised treatment in the region without having to travel to Georgetown.
The facility is expected to offer a 24-hour accident and emergency department, a pharmacy, and a diagnostic unit outfitted with digital X-ray, ultrasound and CT scan services.
The hospital will also incorporate artificial intelligence tools to support the rapid reading of medical images and help improve the speed and accuracy of diagnoses.
Other planned services include a fully equipped laboratory capable of conducting more than 100 different tests, a modern blood bank, and about 50 inpatient beds in self-contained, air-conditioned rooms.
The new hospital will also feature dental services with imaging support, audiology, speech therapy, two modern operating theatres, a maternity ward and a neonatal unit.
Dr. Anthony said government also wants the facility to create opportunities for people in the region, particularly young residents who can be trained to work as nurses, technicians and in other healthcare roles.
When completed, the hospital is expected to employ at least 46 doctors, including specialists in obstetrics and gynaecology, surgery, internal medicine, paediatrics and emergency medicine.
