Guyana and China renew medical brigade MOU

Guyana and China have renewed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) which will ensure the continuation of Chinese medical brigades to Guyana.

The agreement solidifies a three-decade long partnership between the two countries which has already resulted in over 1.31 million people receiving medical aid in Guyana.

Minister of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony and Chinese Ambassador to Guyana Yang Yang signed the MoU at the country’s ministry of health earlier this week.

Minister of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony and Chinese Ambassador to Guyana, Her Excellency Yang Yang, sign the MoU, reaffirming over three decades of fruitful collaboration in healthcare - Guyana Chronicle

According to officials, China’s brigade interventions have saved over 30,000 critically ill individuals, and involved more than 70,000 surgeries over the years.

These bilateral relations began between China and Guyana in 1993, and eventually lead to over 20 medical teams comprising of 295 Chinese healthcare professionals being dispatched for a year each in Guyana.

Reiterating China’s pledge to supporting Guyana’s health sector, Yang said, “For over three decades, these teams have demonstrated tenacity, selflessness, and a deep commitment to saving lives. Their work has not only enhanced local healthcare but also helped nurture a capable medical workforce within Guyana.”

Dr. Anthony extended gratitude to both the government and people of China for their sustained generosity and commitment to improving healthcare in Guyana.

He noted, “Of recent time, and during COVID, we had to reorient ourselves. In that reorientation, one of the things that we were able to innovate was to ensure that, apart from the brigade working and teaching while they work, we were able to formalise a teaching structure. And for the last two years now, the brigade members would begin teaching the theoretical components of the training, then, those who were being selected would go to China to do their practical training.”

He said that the Chinse team has assisted in more advanced types of surgeries which were practically impossible some years ago.

“…We now do them routinely at the Georgetown public hospital, and that is because of the professional training that has been given by the brigade members to our local staff,” Dr. Anthony said.

Officials said that the agreement allows Chinese specialists to travel to Guyana for training, and with the official launch of a 2025 talent development programme, seven Guyanese doctors have been selected to travel to China for further training in September 2025.