Caribbean first: GPHC performs four successful paired-chain kidney transplants

The patients with doctors and health officials

Guyana has completed the first four paired-chain kidney transplants ever performed in the country and the Caribbean, the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) said on Wednesday, marking a major regional milestone in transplant medicine.

The procedures involved eight surgeries—four donor nephrectomies and four transplants—after all original donor–recipient pairs were found incompatible. Through virtual cross-matching and detailed planning, GPHC successfully matched each recipient with a suitable donor, bringing together unrelated individuals who “became families,” hospital officials said.

Health Minister Dr Frank Anthony and GPHC CEO Robbie Rambarran highlighted the achievement during a press briefing at the hospital’s Resource Centre, saying the milestone reflects Guyana’s expanding capabilities and offers renewed hope to patients awaiting life-saving treatment.

Rambarran said kidney disease remains a growing challenge, with more than 2,200 new nephrology patients registered at GPHC between 2023 and 2025. Some 360 patients are currently receiving dialysis, including 246 who started treatment this year. He described the situation as “alarming,” noting that 20 of the 29 patients admitted are on dialysis and that 90% of patients miss scheduled treatments.

Despite the burden, Rambarran said transplant surgery continues to transform lives, adding that “every successful transplant presents a second chance of life, freedom from dialysis, restored health, and renewed hope for patients and their families.”

Guyana has performed 13 kidney transplants so far in 2025, up from eight in both 2023 and 2024, placing the country ahead of several Caribbean peers, including Antigua and Barbuda, the Bahamas, and Trinidad and Tobago.

GPHC’s recent achievements include the Caribbean’s youngest kidney transplant in 2023—performed on a 20kg child—Guyana’s first laparoscopic donor nephrectomy, expanded transplant teams, investments in new technology, and strengthened post-operative and mental-health support.

Anthony said the government is committed to further improving transplant services and announced that Guyana will soon conduct HLA testing locally, reducing reliance on overseas laboratories. He also cited international partnerships in Spain, Brazil, India and Canada that are helping local clinicians gain exposure to advanced transplant techniques.

“They’re the trendsetters, they’re the pioneers in the Caribbean. They are the leaders in the Caribbean, and we want to keep it that way,” Anthony said of the transplant team.

Officials said the Human Organ Tissue Transplant Organisation (HOTTA) is laying groundwork for a deceased-donor transplant programme, including registries and organ-harvesting systems.

GPHC said the discussions on Wednesday highlighted not only data and performance but also the courage of patients, the generosity of donors and the expertise of medical teams driving the programme. The hospital said it remains committed to leading the region in transplant medicine and expanding access to modern, world-class kidney care.