Kidney patients in Guyana are set to benefit from a new EU-funded initiative aimed at strengthening organ donation and transplantation services, as the government moves to expand access to treatment for chronic and end-stage renal disease.
The Government of Guyana on Monday launched the “Building a Sustainable Organ Donation and Transplantation Programme in Guyana”, a 31-month project funded by the European Union under the Guyana HealthNext: Training, Research and Development programme, coordinated by Expertise France.
The initiative is designed to reduce reliance on dialysis and improve access to kidney transplantation, while establishing a more structured national system for organ donation and related care.
The programme is being implemented by the Donation and Transplantation Institute (DTI Foundation) in partnership with the Guyana Human Organ and Tissue Transplant Agency (HOATTA) and the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC).
A release said the project will focus on establishing a national HLA laboratory, strengthening nephrology and transplant referral systems, expanding capacity for deceased organ donation, and developing a national governance framework aligned with international standards.
“This project represents a transformative opportunity for Guyana’s health system,” said Dr Chloë Ballesté, Project Director at DTI.
The initiative could have a wider regional impact, the release said.
“The initiative of the Ministry of Health will improve the lives of Guyanese and beyond in the Caribbean region,” said Mr Nadal, First Counsellor and Head of Cooperation at the European Union Delegation to Guyana.
The programme also aims to position the country as a potential regional reference point for organ donation and transplantation, with coordination planned alongside PAHO Caribbean, CARICOM and neighbouring countries.
The project will run until October 2028.
