HGP Nightly News – Health Minister Dr Frank Anthony has announced a major expansion of the government’s eyecare voucher programme, removing previous age restrictions and making all citizens eligible for eye testing and assistance toward spectacles.
Before this change, only two groups qualified: persons aged 18 and under, and those 50 years and older. Everyone in between, the working-age population, young adults, those in their prime earning years, fell through the cracks. Not anymore.Under the expanded initiative, every citizen can now access a $2,000 voucher for an eye test.
For those who need glasses, the government will provide up to $15,000 in support toward the cost of spectacles. The programme is backed by a formal Memorandum of Understanding signed with 67 private healthcare providers across the country.
That means more optometrists, more locations, and more options for patients.The expansion is part of a much larger story. Budget 2026 allocated a staggering $161.1 billion to the health sector, a record investment that signals the government’s commitment to making healthcare accessible to every Guyanese, regardless of age or income.
For residents in interior regions, where eye testing services have historically been limited or non-existent, the expansion could be particularly transformative. The programme aims not just to correct vision but to strengthen screening for serious conditions like cataracts, glaucoma, and diabetic-related eye complications.
