His Excellency Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali, President of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, together with Honourable Minister of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony on Monday announced transformative partnership Northwell Health and the George Subraj Foundation. This collaboration aims to significantly enhance cardiac care services across Guyana through targeted investments in research, training, and healthcare infrastructure.
During a press briefing at the Marriott Hotel, in Kingston, President Ali revealed that the George Subraj Foundation has committed $209 million to support a national cardiac care initiative. This substantial investment will be directed towards research, training, and the improvement of cardiovascular care delivery across the country.
The President emphasised the urgency and significance of this initiative, describing cardiovascular disease (CVD) as a “national emergency” in Guyana, where heart disease accounts for over 70% of the nation’s disease burden. He stressed that the country’s mortality rate from CVD remains one of the highest in the Americas.
“In our vision, we are not building to be second. We are building to be first,” President Ali stated. “This partnership with Northwell Health and the George Subraj Foundation is a monumental step toward establishing a world-class healthcare system that prioritizes the health and well-being of all Guyanese.”
Meanwhile, Minister of Health Dr. Frank Anthony echoed the President’s sentiments, highlighting the tangible progress made since the partnership began in 2021. He noted that, in just a few years, the collaboration has led to the upgrade of nursing programs, the establishment of specialised surgical teams, and opportunities for healthcare workers to undertake observerships abroad, thereby enhancing their skills and expertise.
“From conducting just 39 cardiac surgeries in 2019, we have expanded to nearly 600 procedures in the last year alone,” Minister Anthony highlighted. “This partnership has already brought about transformative changes to cardiac care in Guyana, and we are committed to further improving our services.”
Minister Anthony also underscored the importance of the partnership in treating complex cases, such as burn victims from the Mahdia tragedy, who were provided care at Northwell Health due to the limitations of local capacity. The Minister referred to the growing collaboration as a reliable and evolving alliance that continues to meet the country’s medical needs.
Further, Dr. Anthony acknowledged the critical progress in organ transplantation, with the George Subraj Foundation’s initial support for Guyana’s first renal transplant paving the way for the establishment of transplant legislation, a national transplant agency, and the future prospect of deceased-donor organ transplants.
The event was attended by key figures including Dr. Eric Cioe-Peña, Vice President for the Centre for Global Health at Northwell Health; Dr. Rajiv Jauhar, Vice Chairman of Northwell Health; Robbie Rambarran, Chief Executive Officer of the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation; and Nicole Theriot, the United States Ambassador to Guyana.
This transformative partnership between Guyana, Northwell Health, and the George Subraj Foundation marks a significant milestone in the nation’s healthcare development, with far-reaching implications for improving health outcomes and quality of care for all Guyanese citizens.
Minister of Health Dr. Frank Anthony delivers remarks at the launch of the Guyana Global Cardiology Initiative
President Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali and Minister of Health Dr. Frank Anthony join members of the Subraj family, representatives of Northwell Health, and other key stakeholders during the launch of the Guyana Global Cardiology Initiative on Monday, April 7, 2025, in Georgetown.