Guyana ready to lead Regional telemedicine push– President Ali

President Dr Irfaan Ali says Guyana is ready to take a leading role in advancing telemedicine across the Caribbean, highlighting the country’s growing success in using technology to bridge healthcare gaps.

Speaking at the opening of the 70th annual health research conference hosted by the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) on Wednesday, Dr Ali pointed to Guyana’s unique geographic landscape as a key driver behind its embrace of telemedicine.

“Today in Guyana, we have embraced telemedicine because of our geographic layout, and we have already seen great success,” Dr Ali said.

He noted that the use of telemedicine has significantly improved healthcare delivery, particularly in hinterland and remote communities. “We have seen lives saved, the need for medical evacuation reduced, and greater support by specialist staff in hinterland and remote areas,” he added.

Building on these gains, President Ali announced Guyana’s readiness to expand its efforts beyond its borders.

“We are ready to deploy this investment for the rest of the region. We are ready to partner with the rest of the region in creating a telemedicine hub here in Guyana to support clinical care, research, and educational needs,” Dr Ali said.

He also highlighted the transformative role of artificial intelligence (AI) in modern healthcare, particularly in improving speed and accuracy in diagnostics.

“Historically, it may have taken us a day to organise a scan and then another day to read it. Today, you can get a scan done and evaluated in three minutes with AI,” he explained.

According to President Ali, Guyana has already begun integrating this advanced technology into its healthcare system. “We have brought in the technology that allows us to do that here in Guyana. We have already implemented it in four of our facilities, and we would love to share that experience with you,” he said.

The CARPHA conference brings together regional and international health professionals to discuss innovations and collaborative approaches to improving public health across the Caribbean.