Guyana is the top CARICOM country in successful kidney transplants
ABIGAIL BARRETT / Our Today
Guyana has distinguished itself as the leading country in the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) performing kidney transplants, a grand achievement in the region’s medical field, according to Dr Leslie Ramsammy, Guyana’s ambassador to Switzerland and advisor to the minister of health.
This milestone is the result of sustained investment in healthcare infrastructure, skilled medical professionals, and a commitment to improving patient outcomes.
“Guyana has recently up[ped] its own game when it comes to kidney replacement therapy; this is what people generally know as dialysis and kidney transplant. We have become the leading kidney transplant country in Caricom. In 2024 we are expanding the programme and making it a centre of excellence,” Dr Ramsammy stated in an interview with the Department of Public Information, Guyana.
The government’s $600,000 subsidy and the expansion of modern dialysis centres have significantly improved access to treatment for patients, thereby enhancing overall healthcare accessibility.
Over the past decade, Guyana has made significant strides in developing its health care system with a particular focus on renal care. The Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) has played a pivotal role in this transformation, becoming the hub for renal transplantation in the country. The hospital’s dedicated renal team, comprising local and international specialists, has performed over 200 successful kidney transplants since the program’s inception.
“So, Guyana is moving forward, we are adopting revolutionary and new approaches to kidney health…we are adding our own dimensions because we want kidney health to be in every home in this country. We have to start medications early, everyone with kidney disease must be exposed to modern testing and medications,” Ramsammy said.
The advisor stated that the ministry is implementing medications like HbA1C to already diagnosed individuals and within the primary health care system to achieve the country’s goal.
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