Guyana is taking steps to transform itself into a biomedical and life sciences hub, Health Minister Dr Frank Anthony said, outlining the government’s long-term vision to advance pharmaceutical research, innovation, and manufacturing.
Dr Anthony made the remarks during a white coat ceremony for the latest cohort of pharmacy graduates at the Cara Lodge on Sunday, saying the initiative will help the country move beyond clinical care.
“Some of the things that we’re looking at to do in terms of industrial pharmacy: We want to create a biomedical hub, or in some cases people call them a life science hub. And what that really is, is that we can have institutes that would do discovery science and you can take simple things– like the biodiversity that we have in our jungle, and we can find compounds and perhaps use them to do things in medicine,” he said.
Guyana’s biodiversity offers a rich source of natural compounds that could lead to new medical discoveries, Dr Anthony added, noting that the government aims to harness these resources responsibly with the support of trained scientists and pharmacists.
As part of the plan, Guyana is preparing to sign an agreement with one of Europe’s largest life sciences parks in southern Belgium.
“Very soon we’ll sign a contract with a life science park in Belgium, southern Belgium– they have one of the biggest life sciences parks in Europe. And we’ll sign that contract with them, and they’re gonna come here to work with us to develop our own life science park here. So, that’s one step. And very soon we’ll be signing an agreement with the French Aid organisation, where as part of the agreement they would send people here to do a lot of capacity building,” he said.
The agreements will include postgraduate training opportunities in France, Germany, the Netherlands, and other European countries to build technical expertise in health and life sciences.
Discussions are also underway with international pharmaceutical companies to produce biosimilars — locally manufactured medicines equivalent to widely known drugs such as Ozempic.
Dr Anthony said the government is laying the foundation for a future in which Guyana delivers high-quality healthcare while contributing to global pharmaceutical innovation.
The Ministry of Health is also modernising its Materials Management Unit (MMU) to improve efficiency, transparency, and accountability in the storage and distribution of medicines.
It is working with consulting firm Ernst & Young to introduce advanced warehousing and management systems as part of broader health sector reforms.
“These initiatives represent a significant leap forward in building a modern, self-sustaining health system, and in positioning Guyana as a rising centre for biomedical innovation in the region,” Dr Anthony said.
