The Guyana Government has signed an agreement with Northwell Health to its manage emergency medical services.
This was announced by President Dr Irfaan Ali on Tuesday evening during a diaspora engagement in New York.
“Only today, we signed another agreement with Northwell, who will be implementing our emergency services, emergency medical services in Guyana, and they will be managing that service whilst we build the capacity over the next three years,” he disclosed.
Earlier this year, President Ali had noted that the government will be embarking on a countrywide revamp of its emergency healthcare system.
The government is currently working towards the establishment of a national ambulance authority that will oversee the co-ordination to cover emergency dispatch via land, sea and air. It is likely to be developed at the Infectious Diseases Hospital, formerly the Oceanview Hotel.
During his engagement with the diaspora on Tuesday, President Ali recommitted to ensuring his government develops a world-class healthcare system in Guyana.
“Some of you worry, if I visit and a medical emergency arises, will I receive the care I deserve?…No Guyanese, whether at home or visiting, should ever have to question the quality of healthcare they receive,” the President expressed.
Northwell Health is a non-profit integrated healthcare service that is considered New York’s largest healthcare provider.
Guyana has been partnering with the organisation to help modernise its healthcare sector. In fact, Northwell Health has been expanding its telemedicine services in Guyana since 2022. The programme, which now operates across 81 sites, enables two-way, real-time communication between patients and healthcare providers in different locations, supported by audio-visual technology and integrated medical devices. The initiative targets hinterland and riverine communities, aiming to improve patient outcomes and emergency response capabilities.
Earlier this month, President Ali had discussions with a team from Northwell Health led by Vice President and Founding Director of the Centre for Global Health, Dr Eric Cioè-Peña. Discussions centred on the implementation of the National Emergency Medicine Authority and plans to collaborate with ExxonMobil to establish a Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Centre in Guyana.
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