–aims to establish smaller facilities in Regions One, Two, Nine and 10

IN just over a year of operation, the Sheriff General Hospital at Leonora in Region Three continues to deliver on its commitments towards changing the way the healthcare system is seen in Guyana by bringing cutting-edge services to Guyanese at an affordable cost.

One of the proprietors of the Sheriff Group of Companies and the new managing partner of Sheriff General Hospital, Ameir Ahmad, gave this newspaper an exclusive interview in which he credited Guyanese for inspiring them to make investments to introduce “redefined beauty” services to Guyana and elevate healthcare to new heights.

The managing partner said: “I am grateful and proud of what we have been doing and what we have accomplished in just a year at the Sheriff General Hospital, but we could not have done it without the people of Guyana. Their trust and belief in us continue to motivate us to want to do better and offer the best services to them.”

Acknowledging Guyana’s revolutionary path and the evolution of Guyanese culture and worldview, Ameir said that making healthcare more widely accessible and providing plastic surgery operations at their facility are game changers for the expanding economy.

According to him: “We have recognised that there is no longer a stigma attached to plastic surgeries as much as it once was. In this present era, people are spending their money travelling to countries such as the Dominican Republic, Colombia, and Brazil to have treatments like buttock implants, liposuction, tummy tucks, and breast lifts, just because they may be less expensive than in the United States.

“So, at Sheriff, we have decided to invest in some of the best surgeons from Cuba and Colombia to perform any type of plastic surgery at a safe and affordable price.”
While Sheriff Group of Companies aims to advance in every sector of their business, Ameir related that their ultimate aim is to boost the country’s economy.

“In everything that we do as a company, obviously we are aiming at making money; however, we also take pride and joy in knowing that we are contributing to our country’s economy. This is a huge accomplishment for us, but as a country, we are further motivated to ensure that Guyana becomes the hub for plastic surgeries,” he said.

Ameir also shared that the construction work on another ultra-modern specialty hospital at Aubrey Barker Road, South Ruimveldt, Georgetown (New Four Lane Highway) is moving apace.
According to him: “Because of the type of service that we are planning to offer at this facility, a state-of-the-art structure is required. Right now, we are looking at the various sectors that are flourishing in Guyana, and we know that this type of competition, even though it is good for the country, also pushes us to bring our A game.”

Reflecting on what he shared with this publication sometime last year, Ameir said: “For us, medical tourism refers to the recognition of Guyana, and we are going above and beyond to ensure that the Sheriff Hospitals provide a less expensive option for healthcare for Guyanese as well as people from the Caribbean and other nations.

“Having to remove a tumour or doing brain surgery may cost you an arm and a leg abroad; however, we are working with you to ensure that the cost is only one-third of what you were going to pay, and to make it even simpler, we are also accepting insurance from all around the world,” he said.

Among the services offered, Ameir said that the new facility will also offer cardiac surgery, organ transplants, cancer screening and treatment, bone reconstruction surgery, surgeries related to the retina and eyes, neurology, dialysis, urology, psychotherapy and counselling, plastic surgery, dental services, internal medicine, and myriad laboratory tests, including biopsies and culture tests.

Sharing his plans for the healthcare sector, Ameir said that their intentions are to open smaller medical facilities in Region One (Barima-Waini) and Region Two (Pomeroon/Supenaam), a medical centre in Lethem, Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo), and Linden, Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Upper Berbice).