In a landmark development for Guyana’s public and private healthcare sectors, President Irfaan Ali announced two major upgrades to the country’s medical infrastructure during the official opening ceremony of the Optique Eye Hospital on 17 April 2026.
First, the South American nation has rolled out an artificial intelligence-powered diagnostic tool capable of analyzing X-rays, CT scans and MRIs in just one minute, cutting down the long wait times that previously delayed care for thousands of patients. President Ali explained that the new AI system represents a critical investment in healthcare infrastructure that will transform clinical outcomes across the country. “Before, patients and providers would wait hours for scan results to be interpreted by specialists. Now, we can get a full, detailed analysis in just 60 seconds. That translates to faster clinical responses, better treatment outcomes and more impactful care for all patients,” the president stated.
Health Minister Dr Frank Anthony confirmed to local outlet Demerara Waves Online News that the AI medical imaging platform is already operational at two public facilities: Enmore Hospital on East Coast Demerara and De Kinderen Hospital on West Coast Demerara. The government has formal plans to extend the technology to Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation and all other public coastal hospitals in the coming months. “Any facility with X-ray or CT scanning capabilities will receive this system, and we will integrate it for MRI analysis as we expand MRI access across the public health sector,” Dr Anthony added.
The announcement coincided with the launch of Optique Eye Hospital, the first privately owned specialized eye care facility in Guyana, located on New Market Street in Georgetown. Built at a total cost of GY$1 billion, the project saw its capital expenditure significantly reduced through investment incentives offered by the Guyana Office for Investment (GO-Invest), part of the government’s push to attract private healthcare investment. Dhani A. Narine, CEO of Optique, credited public-private collaboration and financing support from Republic Bank for making the facility a reality, noting that “through alignment with the government’s development goals, we were able to deliver this complex project at a far more accessible cost.”
The new hospital is dedicated to Dr. Shailendra Sugrim, one of Guyana’s most respected ophthalmologists whose decades of work have advanced eye care access across the country. Beyond serving local patients, the facility has launched a regional referral program aimed at building partnerships with Caribbean nations and the global Guyanese diaspora, to attract patients from across the Americas.
Optique Eye Hospital offers a full suite of advanced ophthalmic surgical procedures, including cataract surgery, glaucoma treatment, orbit and oculoplastic surgery, corneal and pterygium surgery, and vitreoretinal surgery. All services are delivered in a modern, purpose-built facility with cutting-edge equipment and advanced operating theaters. The institution has committed to ongoing staff training, regular technology upgrades, rigorous quality monitoring, and community outreach initiatives including free eye screening campaigns to boost early detection of eye disease. Narine emphasized that the facility eliminates the need for Guyanese patients to travel abroad for life-saving sight care: “This project proves that with a supportive investment climate, strong partnerships and shared commitment, we can deliver highly complex subspecialty care locally at international standards. Our goal is to ensure no patient has to leave the country for safe, effective sight-saving treatment.”
President Ali framed the dual launches as a foundational step toward positioning Guyana as a leading destination for medical tourism in the Caribbean. “Guyana is already known for its natural beauty, vast energy potential and rapid economic growth. Now, we want to build a reputation for world-class, affordable healthcare. We want patients from across the Caribbean, the diaspora, North America and beyond to choose Guyana for high-quality modern medical care,” the president said. The facility’s leadership added that the hospital marks a major step forward in expanding equitable access to advanced eye care, improving quality of life for patients across the country living with a wide range of eye health conditions.