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Guyana Taps Indian Expertise to Become Caribbean's Premier Healthcare Hub

Guyana is leveraging India's medical expertise to develop its own healthcare system and become a regional hub. The Guyanese government facilitates patient referrals to India for specialized, cost-effective treatment. Bilateral cooperation includes MoUs for medical training with Indian institutions and agreements to supply affordable medicines. This partnership, strengthened by high-level visits, aims to position Guyana as a healthcare destination for the Caribbean.

Key Points: Guyana, India Partner to Build Caribbean Healthcare Hub

  • Patient referrals to India
  • Medical training MoUs
  • Affordable medicine access
  • Healthcare tourism vision
3 min read

Guyana counts on Indian expertise to become a healthcare hub in Carribean

Guyana aims to be a Caribbean healthcare hub with India's help, sending patients for treatment and signing MoUs for training and affordable medicines.

"We want to tap into Indian expertise. - Dharamkumar Seeraj, Guyanese High Commissioner to India"

New Delhi, January 1

Guyana is aiming to emerge as a healthcare hub in the Caribbean and is counting on Indian expertise to strengthen its medical infrastructure, Guyanese High Commissioner to India Dharamkumar Seeraj said, while lauding India's robust healthcare system.

Underscoring the growing healthcare cooperation between the two countries, Seeraj said that the Guyanese government currently facilitates treatment for patients abroad when specialised care is unavailable domestically, with India emerging as a preferred destination due to its high-quality medical services.

"Currently, we have patients travelling to India for specialised treatment. If the required care is not available in Guyana, the Ministry of Health assists patients by facilitating treatment abroad. The government supports patients up to a certain amount, and if the cost exceeds that, additional assistance is provided. Many patients, therefore, opt for treatment in India. There is a logistics problem, the quality of care is excellent, and the cost is highly competitive," he said.

Noting the several MoUs and agreements signed with Indian institutions, the high commissioner said that his country aims to further expand on opportunities for patients to seek treatment from a wide range of medical institutions in India.

Moreover, Guyana aims to position itself as a healthcare tourism hub on the lines of India, with its growing ties with New Delhi proving instrumental in this effort.

"We expect this arrangement to continue as we build our own healthcare systems, and we want to become a healthcare hub of the Caribbean," he said.

"We want to tap into Indian expertise. We have established relationships and signed MoUs with several institutions, including the National Cancer Institute and other hospitals, which are offering medical training. They're subsidising it, and sometimes they are offering full sponsorship for students in the medical field," he added.

Seeraj believes that India's healthcare system is "excellent and the world has acknowledged it."

"At both the government and private sector levels, cooperation is already strong, and we aim to further expand opportunities for patients to seek treatment from a wide range of medical institutions in India," he said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Guyana in November 2024 gave fresh momentum to bilateral ties, with several MoUs signed in the healthcare sector.

These agreements focus on cooperation in health and pharmaceuticals, including the regulation and supply of affordable medicines to Guyana and other CARICOM countries. India also agreed to establish a Jan Aushadhi Kendra in Guyana to improve access to low-cost medicines.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

S
Sarah B
As someone who has family in the Caribbean, I think this is a brilliant initiative. The cost and quality of care in India is unmatched for many procedures. If Guyana can replicate even a fraction of that model, it will be a huge benefit for the entire region.
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Priya S
Proud moment for Indian healthcare! But I hope we also focus on improving our own rural healthcare infrastructure. We are exporting excellence, which is good, but let's ensure every Indian village has access to quality care first. The Jan Aushadhi model going global is a great step though.
R
Rohit P
Excellent strategic move. This builds long-term goodwill and creates a permanent footprint for India in the Caribbean. The training and knowledge transfer are key. Goes beyond just diplomacy, this is real nation-building assistance.
V
Vikram M
The logistics problem mentioned is real. Direct flights and easier medical visas will make this partnership even stronger. Our hospitals should set up liaison offices there. This is how we counter Chinese influence - not with loans, but with genuine capacity building.
K
Kavya N
Wonderful! 👏 It's heartening to see India's strength in affordable medicine (Jan Aushadhi) being shared. So many lives in smaller nations can be saved. Hope this leads to more Indian doctors and nurses getting international exposure and recognition too.

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