Guyana President Irfaan Ali says the newly opened Diamond Regional Hospital will provide critical healthcare services to more than 40,000 residents along the East Bank corridor, as the government continues its push to modernize and expand the country’s health infrastructure.
“This is an investment that will ensure our women, children, elderly and all alike have a level of treatment that is not based on income or status. That is what this investment is doing: providing quality, efficient, equitable services. This is an investment in the people of our country,” President Ali said during the official opening ceremony.
The event was attended by Prime Minister Mark Phillips, Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo, other Cabinet members, health officials, and residents of the area.
The state-of-the-art facility, constructed under a partnership with China’s Sinopharm International, features 75 inpatient beds and three operating theatres. It was built to meet Chinese, British, and American medical standards and forms part of a broader GUY$37.2 billion initiative aimed at upgrading healthcare facilities across five regions in Guyana.
According to President Ali, the new hospitals are being built with standardized equipment and capabilities to ensure consistent, high-quality care and facilitate easier long-term maintenance.
“We want to ensure that the government invests simultaneously in equivalent care so every Guyanese can have a minimum standard of care. Regardless of which region you’re from – that is what this government is about,” he said.
Health Minister Dr. Frank Anthony noted that the previous Diamond hospital, which served the area for 18 years, was no longer adequate to meet the needs of the growing population.
He explained that while some upgrades were made in 2020 — including the transition to a “smart hospital” — the government opted to construct an entirely new facility to better support current and future demands.
“We’re making sure that people living on the East Bank have access not just to healthcare, but to the best healthcare,” Anthony said.
