Health in Guyana

The Ministry of Health sets national policy, regulates and coordinates the health system. Regional Health Authorities and Regional Democratic Councils support service delivery in the ten administrative regions. A Health Post or community health worker provides basic prevention and care for common illnesses. A Health Centre adds health education, diagnosis and treatment, vaccination, non-communicable disease management, maternity and child health, family planning, reproductive health, school and adolescent health, home visits and, where available, pharmacy services. Health Centres can refer patients to higher levels of care. District Hospitals provide outpatient and basic inpatient care, diagnostic services and accident and emergency services where the facility offers them. Regional Hospitals provide emergency treatment, routine surgery, maternity care, specialist services, laboratory and imaging services, inpatient and outpatient care and pharmacy services. The Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation is Guyana’s main national referral provider for tertiary specialist and diagnostic care. Six regional hospitals opened in 2025 in Diamond, Enmore, Bath, No. 75 Village, De Kinderen and Lima; advertised services and 24-hour emergency department coverage still need to be checked with the individual facility. For a non-urgent problem, use the Ministry of Health’s facility information and contact the nearest Health Post or Health Centre. Coastal and urban areas generally offer shorter referral paths than hinterland communities. Outreach teams, mobile services, home-based care, radio, mobile networks, Wi-Fi and telemedicine support access in remote areas, including through 81 telemedicine sites. Facility names, opening times, staffing, medicine stocks, referral requirements and transport arrangements can change, so confirm them before travelling. For an acute threat to life or serious injury, go directly to an accident and emergency department. Police emergency number 911 and the Guyana Fire Service or emergency medical services number 912 are locally confirmed; some current listings also show 913 for ambulance services, so verify the local ambulance number when possible. The Guyana Emergency Medical Authority (GEMA) is being developed to centralize and standardize emergency medical services. Hinterland transport, response time and network coverage remain limiting factors, and no nationwide response-time guarantee is established. Hospital pharmacies are required, and hospital emergency departments are subject to 24-hour pharmacy requirements. Government Pharmacy Services and the Pharmacy & Poisons Board support medicines administration, but the stock and dispensing rules of each facility differ. Use licensed and registered providers and pharmacies, give accurate clinical information, follow prescription instructions and keep referral and follow-up appointments. The current Universal Health Voucher program provides one $10,000 voucher per person each year for laboratory tests at eligible private providers, with identification required. A cervical-screening voucher of $8,000 is available for women aged 21 to 65. The eye-care program lists an eye test at $2,000 and glasses at $15,000. Public primary-care services are often free where this has been explicitly provided, while private care, advanced treatment, medicines and transport may involve case-specific payment. Guyana has no single national registration, referral or waiting-time rule covering every provider. After treatment, follow-up may return to a Health Centre or regional service for chronic disease care, mental-health care or rehabilitation. Rehabilitation services can include physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy and audiology, with support also available through Cheshire Home and the National Vocational Training Centre. The National Mental Health Website provides information, and the 915 National Suicide Prevention Helpline offers free, 24-hour crisis support. If a required treatment is unavailable locally, GPHC may recommend treatment through a domestic private provider or overseas referral. Eligible cases may receive financial assistance through GPHC, including for cardiac care, cancer treatment, MRI, IVF, hip replacement, prostheses or brain surgery, but approval is not automatic. Citizens, migrants and people living, working or visiting in Guyana may use services according to regional and facility arrangements; access conditions should be confirmed with the provider.