By Tiana Cole | HGPTV Newsroom
In a significant step toward transforming Guyana’s healthcare landscape, the Government of Guyana, Hess Corporation, and Mount Sinai Health System on Tuesday signed a landmark US$125 million Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to extend the National Healthcare Initiative for an additional five years.
President Irfaan Ali presided over the signing ceremony at State House alongside John Hess, CEO of Hess Corporation, and Dr. Rachel Vreeman, Executive Director of Mount Sinai’s Department of Global Health and Health System Design.
Delivering the feature address, President Ali described the initiative as pivotal in creating a modern, digitally enabled healthcare system and promised world-class medical services to all Guyanese. He further announced the launch of an electronic mobile app within the next seven months, allowing patients nationwide to schedule hospital appointments conveniently and receive personalized health updates and timely medical reminders directly to their smartphones.
“In the next seven months, you will have at the Georgetown Hospital and all the other regional hospitals, electronic mobile apps through which patients can schedule their appointments…and all the new regional hospitals under construction,” President Ali disclosed.
The Head of State projected that, in two years, Guyana’s healthcare facilities would rival some of the best globally. They would become almost entirely paperless and embrace state-of-the-art technology to deliver advanced surgical interventions and diagnostic treatments.
“We are the perfect size. But we are not settling to be a sample size. We are embracing the most advanced technology. So that in another two years, you would be in a healthcare system that would be almost paperless,” President Ali emphasized.
Minister of Health Dr. Frank Anthony also underscored the importance of the expanded partnership, noting that Guyana’s unprecedented economic growth must translate directly into its citizens’ well-being and improved healthcare.
“As our country experiences unprecedented economic growth, we have the opportunity and indeed the responsibility to ensure that this progress is reflected in the well-being of our people,” Minister Anthony stated.
Meanwhile, Dr. Rachel Vreeman, representing Mount Sinai, expressed pride in the collaboration and lauded Guyana’s rapid progress toward building a world-class healthcare system.
“We are incredibly proud to work in partnership with the Government of Guyana, and what Guyana has accomplished in such a short time…a healthcare system that is truly world-class,” Dr. Vreeman remarked.
The CEO of Hess Corporation, John Hess, celebrated the partnership’s success thus far, highlighting the child health screening program, which has already evaluated over 35,000 children for dental, vision, hearing, and developmental issues.
“The progress you all have made together is remarkable and a tribute to your talents, your commitment, and your dedication to healthier lives,” Hess concluded.
