The Minister of Health, Dr Frank Anthony, on Wednesday attended a certificate luncheon honouring the first cohort of graduates of the Digital Health Training Institute (DHTI), following their successful completion of the programme.
The DHTI is a Mount Sinai initiative implemented in partnership with the Ministry of Health, with support from the Greater Guyana Initiative. The programme was established to strengthen Guyana’s digital health workforce and build the technical capacity required to support the country’s rapidly expanding digital health infrastructure.
As part of their training, this batch of 15 completed 17 modules along with a two-part final evaluation comprising a comprehensive knowledge examination and a live practical assessment. The graduates are expected to join the Ministry of Health as Digital Health Specialists, providing critical technical support for Guyana’s national Electronic Health Record (EHR) system and other digital health initiatives.
Delivering brief remarks at the event, Minister Anthony explained that the programme was specifically designed to develop a cadre of professionals capable of operating, supporting and maintaining the digital systems being introduced across the public health sector.
He noted that the Ministry’s digital transformation has expanded considerably in recent years, with the introduction of Electronic Health Records, telemedicine, pharmaceutical management software and artificial intelligence-supported technologies, including systems used to assist with the interpretation of X-rays and other diagnostic imaging.
“We created this school so we can train the people that we need. This is not something unique for the Ministry of Health, because many years ago we created schools and programmes to train various healthcare professionals,” Dr Anthony said.
The Minister explained that workforce development has long been central to the Ministry’s strategy for strengthening the health sector. He noted that approximately 20 programmes are currently available for the training of healthcare professionals across Guyana, with the Ministry continuously exploring innovative approaches to expand access to education and professional development.
“We’re constantly involved in training, with the latest approach being hybrid training,” he stated.
Dr Anthony emphasised that as Guyana’s healthcare system continues to modernise, the Ministry must simultaneously ensure that there are adequately trained professionals available to operate and support new technologies.
“What we try to do as a Ministry is see where we want to go, and if we don’t have the people to take us there, we train people who can give us the technical support,” the Minister said.
He added that the development of a skilled digital health workforce is particularly important as the Ministry continues to integrate technology into healthcare delivery, improve the management of patient information and strengthen connectivity between health facilities across the country.
Minister Anthony congratulated the inaugural cohort on successfully completing the programme and encouraged the graduates to apply themselves diligently as they begin their careers within the health sector.
He urged them to continue developing their knowledge and technical skills, noting that their expertise will become increasingly important as Guyana advances its digital health agenda.
The graduation of the first DHTI cohort represents another step in the Ministry of Health’s broader efforts to modernise Guyana’s healthcare system while ensuring that the country has the trained human resources necessary to support and sustain its growing digital health infrastructure.
First Digital Health Cohort Graduates, Ready to Support Guyana’s Digital Transformation
