Guyana, Mount Sinai, Hess Corp extend $125M healthcare agreement

The Government of Guyana on Tuesday signed a five-year, $125 million extension of its national healthcare initiative with Mount Sinai and Hess Corporation, aimed at expanding medical services, including a national cancer centre and a fully digitalised healthcare system.

The agreement was signed at State House by President Irfaan Ali, Mount Sinai’s Dr Rachel Vreeman, and Hess Corp CEO John Hess.

“Our priority is to lead to a Regional Prosperity by 2030. Guyana’s healthcare system will stand as a system of excellence in the Caribbean. It will be a goal for healthcare systems worldwide,” Ali said. “Guyana will become a hub for healthcare, our hospitals will rival the world’s best.”

The initiative will establish a Women’s and Children’s Hospital, enhance community-centred care, and introduce new clinical protocols for diseases such as diabetes. A new pathology lab will also be built at Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC).

Hess noted that a school-centred healthcare programme has screened more than 35,000 children for basic health issues, including vision and hearing impairments. He added that nearly 900 nursing assistants will graduate in 2025, helping to reduce the country’s nursing shortage.

“The journey to world-class healthcare is not walked alone—it is built through strategic partnerships, bold investments, and a shared vision for excellence,” Ali said. “Together, we are not just improving healthcare—we are redefining it.”

Vreeman reaffirmed Mount Sinai’s commitment to Guyana’s healthcare system, saying, “We are incredibly proud to work in partnership with the Government of Guyana to improve access to high-quality healthcare for all Guyanese… Now, through 2030, we will continue to support and accelerate Guyana’s progress to achieving a healthier country and a transformed health system, setting a new regional and global standard for modern health system development.”

The initiative will continue to be jointly funded by Hess Corporation and the Government of Guyana and led by Mount Sinai’s Arnhold Institute for Global Health and Mount Sinai International.