Health workers shortage persists; Gov’t assures plans in place to fill new hospitals

According to Minister of Health Dr. Frank Anthony, while the ministry has made significant strides in addressing the challenges of human resources in the health sector, a shortage of healthcare workers still persists.

To address these gaps, the ministry is exploring options for recruiting healthcare workers from abroad, particularly as Guyana continues to experience migration of its professionals. And as a result, Dr. Anthony said the government is taking steps to tackle this shortage with expanded training programmes and the importation of overseas personnel to effectively staff the six new regional hospitals expected to be opened by June 2025.

“The ministry we have worked with PAHO and we have done a staffing plan of how many people we would need to address some of the migration that we have and also to address the expansion that we are doing,” Dr. Anthony stated.

He explained at a yearend press conference on Tuesday that the ministry has trained at least 2,079 medical professionals across different regions and plans to graduate 3,050 individuals in various medical specialties by 2025. Currently, 3,740 individuals are enrolled in training programs, with plans to enroll an additional 3,000 more this year.

To enhance practical training, the ministry has decentralized its programmes and constructed nine operational simulation centres nationwide, enabling hands-on practice for those trained online.

“We have been working to train people locally to be able to meet those demands that is why we have started this hybrid programme and through the hybrid programme we have been able to enroll at least 1000 person in the first batch, this year we took in another batch,” Dr. Anthony explained.

Meanwhile, the health minister revealed that the country in 2024 established several international training partnerships such as PAHO-funded programs being implemented in collaboration with the University of São Paulo in Brazil; fellowship training opportunities available through McMaster University, Northwell Health, and York University in Canada.

Additionally, the University of the West Indies (UWI) will also establish three new medical schools in nursing, medicine, and pharmaceuticals here in Guyana.

Telemedicine services are also being expanded from 59 to 89 sites, improving access to healthcare in remote areas.

Dr. Anthony also revealed that the new Enmore, Diamond and Bath Settlement hospitals are expected to be completed by March 2025, while the remaining three hospitals are slated for completion by June 2025.