Guyana is fast-tracking a sweeping digital health transformation with artificial intelligence at its core, as the Ministry of Health partnered with Mount Sinai to host a high-level seminar on Thursday at the Guyana Marriott Hotel.
The initiative brought together local and international experts to chart how AI can improve diagnostics, enhance patient outcomes, and expand access to quality healthcare nationwide.
The forum forms part of a broader digital health strategy that includes the rollout of electronic health records at major facilities such as the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation and Festival City Polyclinic, as well as large-scale data collection through national school health screening programmes covering tens of thousands of children. This is laying the groundwork for predictive, data-driven healthcare planning.
Speaking on the initiative, President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali said artificial intelligence is becoming essential to modern medical care, noting that countries that fail to embrace it risk falling behind. He added that Guyana has already begun integrating AI into its healthcare system, including AI-supported radiology services across multiple hospitals.
Health Minister Dr Frank Anthony described AI as a transformative force in medicine, shifting healthcare from reactive treatment to predictive, data-driven systems and enabling faster, more accurate clinical decision-making.
Through its partnership with Mount Sinai, Guyana is also advancing the use of AI in pathology imaging to speed up diagnostic interpretation, particularly in cancer detection, where early diagnosis is critical. The system is expected to reduce waiting times and improve patient outcomes by connecting patients more quickly to appropriate treatment.
With continued investment in digital infrastructure, workforce training, and international partnerships, Guyana is positioning itself as a regional leader in AI-enabled healthcare, aiming to deliver faster, more efficient, and more accessible services nationwide.
Minister Anthony addresses the forum
