ushering in new era of patient safety

IN a historic breakthrough for Guyana’s healthcare system, the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) has launched the country’s first-ever Compounding Sterile Preparation Intravenous (IV) Programme.

The initiative, unveiled during Commonwealth Pharmacy Week 2025, marks a major step forward in ensuring safer, more accurate medication delivery for patients.

The milestone event was celebrated on Wednesday with the official commissioning of a new non-hazardous compounding hood at GPHC’s Maternity Pharmacy.

The advanced equipment enables IV medications to be prepared in a sterile, controlled environment at the hospital for the first time, significantly reducing contamination risks and improving patient safety.

“This is a game-changer for healthcare delivery in Guyana,” said officials from GPHC. “We are now able to meet international safety standards and provide our patients with even higher-quality care.”

The launch also highlighted the achievements of Leslyn Bunbury and Shweta Parasram, who made history as the first clinical pharmacists in Guyana to complete specialised training and certification in sterile IV compounding. Their pioneering accomplishment is a testament to GPHC’s commitment to developing local expertise and enhancing pharmacy services.

The new sterile IV programme was made possible through the collaboration of a multidisciplinary team involving Pharmacy, Nursing, Facilities, Engineering, and Medical Providers, with crucial support from Mount Sinai International.

Looking ahead, GPHC plans to expand the initiative with the upcoming launch of a Hazardous Compounding Hood—commonly known as a Chemotherapy Hood—at its Oncology Clinic. This addition will allow chemotherapy medications to be safely prepared in-house. Nurses and doctors will be trained in the new process, and once the clinical pharmacists are certified in chemotherapy compounding, they will begin preparing these potent medications under strict safety conditions.

Why It Matters: Reduces infection risk, Improves medication accuracy, Enhances patient safety, and Aligns with international safety standards.

GPHC aims to roll out sterile IV compounding across all relevant departments, easing the workload on nursing staff and continuing its mission to raise the standard of care for every patient it serves.

“This is just the beginning,” the hospital noted, “and we’re proud to be leading the way in transforming healthcare delivery in Guyana.”