By Tiana Cole | HGP Nightly News |
Guyana has taken a major step toward transforming its healthcare system with the launch of a national Electronic Health Records (EHR) platform, a move aimed at improving patient care, efficiency, and continuity of services across the country.
The initiative, led by the Ministry of Health, represents a significant milestone in the digital modernisation of the public healthcare sector and is expected to enhance patient-centred care nationwide.
Speaking at the launch, Dr. Frank Anthony, Minister of Health, said the EHR system forms part of the government’s broader digital transformation agenda. He noted that while the concept of electronic health records has been discussed for decades, the COVID-19 pandemic underscored the urgent need for a modern, integrated system.
According to the Minister, the pandemic exposed the limitations of manual record-keeping, making it difficult to track patients, share information efficiently, and coordinate care across different regions. The new system is designed to address these challenges by creating a single, unified digital platform for patient records.
Addressing public concerns about privacy and data security, Dr. Anthony assured that robust legal safeguards are already in place. He highlighted the Data Protection Act, which imposes penalties of up to $20 million for individuals and $100 million for institutions found guilty of unlawfully disclosing personal medical information. He stressed that confidentiality and data protection are central to the system’s design and implementation.
The EHR platform will be rolled out across all public hospitals and health centres, ensuring that patient information can be accessed seamlessly regardless of location. Dr. Anthony explained that whether a patient is treated in Georgetown or in hinterland communities such as Lethem, their medical records will be available on the same system. Plans are also in place to integrate private healthcare providers into the platform in the future.
An accompanying mobile application is expected to be introduced, allowing patients to book appointments online and securely access their personal health records from anywhere in the country.
Meanwhile, Robbie Rambarran, Chief Executive Officer of the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation, said the Festival City Polyclinic was selected as the pilot site for the system due to its strategic role within the public healthcare network. The facility serves approximately 2,000 patients each month and operates at the intersection of care delivery, compliance, quality, and public trust.
Rambarran added that outpatient services at the Georgetown Public Hospital are expected to transition to a fully paperless system by April, with all other public health facilities scheduled to follow by the end of the year.
The US$3.3 million initiative is being implemented through a contract with RioMed Limited, a UK-based health technology firm. Officials say the system will significantly improve how patient information is accessed, managed, and shared, while eliminating long-standing inefficiencies associated with manual record-keeping.
The launch of the national EHR system marks a decisive shift toward a more efficient, secure, and patient-focused healthcare system in Guyana.
