15 new dialysis units to come online across Guyana by year-end

The local public healthcare system is set for a major boost, with 15 additional dialysis units expected to come online before the end of this year.

The new facilities, spread across Regions Two, Three, Four, Five, Six, and 10, will bring critical treatment closer to home for patients who have long faced high costs and exhausting travel.

President Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali made the announcement during a health sector briefing, describing the expansion as part of his government’s commitment to improving access for families battling chronic illnesses.

“Before the end of this year, we will have 15 additional dialysis units operational,” the President said. “This is a tremendous improvement that we are advancing in the early days of our government.”

The expansion builds on a steady increase in healthcare facilities. Over the past three years, 25 new health centres and posts have been established, with another 10 under construction. Each will deliver at least 116 types of interventions, ranging from routine lab tests to treatment for non-communicable diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, and heart disease.

Dialysis treatment in Guyana has long been a financial and emotional burden. Sessions at private centres cost between $12,000 and $15,000 each, and patients typically need two or three sessions every week. Even with the government’s $600,000 annual subsidy, families often rely on fundraising or debt to continue treatment. Compounding these challenges, most dialysis services are concentrated in Georgetown, forcing patients from hinterland and coastal communities to travel hours for lifesaving care.

President Ali underscored that the expansion is designed to ease those hardships. “We want to ensure that we invest heavily in primary health care… early screening, access to labs and testing, so we can build a healthier system that reduces risk and supports long, healthy lives for the next generation,” he said.

Health officials added that with dialysis now available in more regions, patients will spend less time travelling and more time recovering with their families. The government is also reviewing ways to expand financial support programmes to reduce out-of-pocket costs.

The dialysis initiative, part of a wider focus on non-communicable diseases, marks a shift in Guyana’s healthcare agenda — from crisis management to prevention and access.