Easier health appointments, faster results with launch of Electronic Health Records

Guyana has taken an important step towards improving its healthcare system with the launch of a national Electronic Health Records (EHR) system, alongside a Health Fair held on Saturday at the Festival City Polyclinic.
The EHR system is designed to significantly reduce waiting times and eliminate the use of paper records, while improving coordination and continuity of care.
Under the new system, patients will be able to book appointments online, access their medical histories digitally, and move seamlessly between doctors, laboratories and pharmacies.
Speaking at the launch, Minister of Health Dr Frank Anthony said the initiative aligns with the Government’s broader digital transformation agenda, noting that the vision for electronic health records has been in development for decades.
Dr Anthony also highlighted the long-term benefits for patients, explaining that laboratory results, imaging and prescriptions will be stored in a single, secure digital record.
“When the results are finished, you don’t have to come back and wait there. That result goes directly into your record,” he said.
He added that the urgency to implement the system became even clearer during the COVID-19 pandemic, when patient data across the country had to be managed manually.
“We recognised that during COVID, to manage patients and to understand what was happening across this country, all of that was being done manually, and it was a challenge,” Dr Anthony said.
Addressing concerns about privacy and confidentiality, the Health Minister assured the public that strong legal safeguards are already in place.
He pointed to the Data Protection Act, which imposes fines of up to $20 million for individuals and $100 million for institutions that unlawfully disclose personal medical data.
“People’s information must be kept confidential, and we are taking this very seriously,” Dr Anthony stressed.
Looking ahead, the Minister said the system will be rolled out nationwide, covering all public hospitals and health centres, with plans to integrate private healthcare providers.
“There is no difference between getting treated in Lethem or getting treated in Georgetown, because all will be on the same platform,” he noted.
The Minister urged patients and healthcare workers alike to embrace the new technology, acknowledging that adjustments will take time but emphasising the long-term benefits.
“If we embrace this and work well, we will all share in the benefits,” Minister Anthony said, adding that the system will enable more efficient care, improved planning, and better health outcomes for all Guyanese. (DPI)