GPHC receives equipment valuing $27M from Chinese

The Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) on Tuesday received equipment valuing $26,912,074 (US$128, 817) from the Chinese Embassy in collaboration with the Chinese Medical Brigade in Guyana.

At the handing over ceremony held at the GPHC, the hospital’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO) retired Brigadier George Lewis said the equipment will help the facility not only to improve its services but offer new services as well.

“The equipment will go a far way in terms of improving healthcare at the Georgetown hospital, a far way in terms of what we can offer to our patients here,” he noted.

The News Room learnt that majority of the equipment will be used by Anesthesiology department while one item –an Abdominal transplant retractor –was never owned by the hospital previously.

Chinese Ambassador to Guyana Cui Jianchun noted that the donation is a testimony to the good relationship between the two countries while other health officials touted further engagement to advance the local healthcare system.

Chairman of the GPHC’s Board of Directors, Dr. Madan Rambarran noted that help is needed in the area of pathology.

“One of the areas that I find we need to remodel and get into modern facility, is the area of pathology and forensic medicine. There were previous Chinese delegations that come and I kind of thrown this to them and I would like the Ambassador…[to look at] if we can engage in a bigger project to look towards pathology service,” he said.

Health Minister Dr. Frank Anthony who signed the agreement with the Chinese team also posited that more collaboration is needed.

He said “we’ll like to seek new ways in how we can expand services that we’re offering and not only to get people to come, but perhaps to also send some of our doctors…so that we can specialize some more of our doctors.”

The Chinese Government has supported Guyana in several areas of the past year including the donation of medical equipment and masks to combat the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic.