New Digital Health Training Institute to build next generation workforce

The Guyana Digital Health Training Institute was officially launched on Tuesday as a transformative initiative funded through the Greater Guyana Institute and designed to modernise the country’s health care system. The institute is being rolled out in partnership with Mt. Sinai.

Executive Director of the Mt. Sinai – Guyana Health Initiative, Dr Rachel Vreeman, described the institute’s opening as a defining milestone in Guyana’s health sector.

“This moment is more than just an opening of a new training programme. It is the beginning of a bold, transformative movement that is going to shape the future of health care delivery for Guyana,” Dr Vreeman stated.

Dr. Vreeman emphasised that the vision for the programme is to create a digital health system that elevates the quality of care, empowers every health care provider, and ensures that patients across the country benefit from modern, high-quality medical services.

“Mt. Sinai is deeply proud to serve as a partner in building the workforce that will bring this digital transformation to life,” she said.

Through the institute, students will not only gain technical skills but will be prepared as leaders capable of guiding Guyana’s health sector into a new era. The inaugural cohort includes 60 students, with a total of 250 students expected to be trained over the next three years.

“You are making history. You are the first chapter in this story that will be told and retold about how Guyana is building a new workforce, a new sector of digital health,” Dr. Vreeman told the first batch

In its first three years, the institute will train professionals in user support, health IT, data science, and digital systems management. This will create new career opportunities.

Meanwhile, Minister of Health Dr Frank Anthony highlighted the importance of digital technology in improving health services and explained that while technology and equipment can be purchased easily, meaningful transformation depends on having trained people to operate and manage these systems.

He added that the ministry is rolling out many new digital applications, and trainees will be equipped with a wide range of skills to support the various software and platforms being introduced.

Dr Anthony assured that graduates of the programme will be offered permanent jobs within the Ministry of Health.

“Another area that we feel is going to be very important is using AI in health care, and already we have a pilot programme to use AI in the interpretation of X-rays and CT scans,” he noted.