The Government of Guyana is in talks with the University of West Indies (UWI) about the establishment of a medical school in Guyana.
President Irfaan Ali made this announcement yesterday at the launch of the $474.6 million telepathology laboratory at Georgetown Public Hospital. Ali said that UWI approached the government with the proposal after he announced the intention of setting aside a building for teaching purposes at the US$161 million New Amsterdam Hospital, which is currently under construction.
“So, we’re talking to the University of West Indies and moving the possibility of a school of medicine now to Region Six, that has the capacity of bringing students from Suriname. But importantly, in the negotiations, we are now working on ensuring that the rates are the same as local students in Trinidad and Tobago, so that there will be a level playing field,” Ali announced.
He also revealed that regional and sub-regional health facilities are being equipped so that people no longer have to travel to the city for medical services, thereby reducing the patient load at the hospital.
Approximately 15 digital X-rays have already been distributed in the various regions, with seven more set to be handed over.
“We are targeting 25 additional digital x-rays this year. In the regional and sub-regional facilities, definitely all the new facilities that are coming on stream including Lethem, Linden, and Bartica, we will have CT scans installed,” he said.
According to him, the government will work to bring in a mobile MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) facility for the GPHC, which will cut travel costs and boost patient accessibility.
A vaccine-manufacturing facility is also in the works and will see the input of several regional and international partners, such as the European Union, the United Kingdom, and Cuba. The proposed facility is expected to service Latin America and the Caribbean.
The President also revealed that the government was working with Mount Sinai Health System to establish a state-of-the-art forensics testing facility in Guyana. “… A world-class forensic facility right here in Guyana, where anything related to forensics can be done right here,” he enthused.
Guyana already has a forensic lab – the Guyana Forensic Science Laboratory – which was funded by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) to the tune of $1.049 billion and commissioned on July 14, 2014. At the time it was stated that in addition to conducting a broad range of tests, a section of the sprawling 12,000-ft complex would be used as a training ground for science students of the University of Guyana.
There was a minor electrical fire at the facility in 2015 and a US-based contractor subsequently said that he refused to do remedial works on the building because of faulty wiring.
Stabroek News also reported on November 11, 2023 that the lab was experiencing a backlog in toxicology screening, according to its Director Delon France.
This issue was raised with France after the forensic lab was criticised over delayed toxicology testing for city businessman Nakema Demindraj Deonauth, who was found dead in his Cummings Street apartment on June 12 of last year. (Antonio Dey)
