Residents of the Moruca Sub-District in Region One now have improved access to advanced diagnostic services following the commissioning of a $60 million digital X-ray system at the Kumaka District Hospital on Friday.
The new imaging system replaces older film-based equipment and is expected to significantly enhance the speed and accuracy of diagnoses for patients in Kumaka and surrounding communities. Previously, residents often relied on outdated machines or were required to travel long distances, sometimes by river, to access essential X-ray services.
Speaking at the commissioning ceremony, Minister of Health Dr. Frank Anthony said the investment forms part of the government’s broader effort to modernise healthcare infrastructure and ensure equitable access to quality medical services nationwide.
“For many years, we struggled with old X-ray equipment, some as old as 25 to 30 years, which relied on films and darkroom processing. We therefore made a deliberate decision to phase out all analogue X-Ray units and standardise modern digital systems across the country,” he said.
According to the minister, the digital system will produce clearer and faster results, improving patient care and reducing the need for referrals outside the sub-region. “We are training the team here to fully operate and manage the system. Once the unit is fully operational, patients will no longer need to leave the sub-region for X-rays. The images produced will be of the highest quality,” he stated.
Despite these upgrades, Guyana’s healthcare system continues to face longstanding structural challenges, particularly in hinterland and rural communities where access to specialised services and trained medical personnel has historically been limited. Public facilities outside the main urban centres often contend with resource constraints, contributing to disparities in service delivery and forcing patients to seek care far from their communities. The expansion of diagnostic services in Region One is therefore seen as part of a broader effort to reduce those gaps.
To support the new equipment, the hospital has been outfitted with specialised electrical wiring, voltage stabilisers, backup power systems and a modern generator to ensure uninterrupted service.
The Ministry of Health also plans to install a Picture Archiving and Communication System (PACS) in the coming months. This will allow digital images to be transmitted to radiologists in Georgetown for interpretation within minutes, providing additional specialist support to healthcare providers in the region.
Health officials expect the upgrades to improve early detection of fractures, infections, chest illnesses and other conditions, reducing treatment delays and strengthening healthcare delivery in the hinterland.
