–says commissioning of Balwant Singh’s six-storey outpatient pavilion advances integrated national health ecosystem

GUYANA’S healthcare sector has received a significant boost with the commissioning of the Dr. Balwant Singh Hospital’s new multi-million-dollar outpatient pavilion, a six-storey facility aimed at expanding capacity and enhancing patient care.

The pavilion was unveiled on Saturday evening at its East Street, South Cummingsburg, Georgetown location, directly opposite the original Balwant Singh Hospital.
Delivering the keynote address, President Dr. Irfaan Ali described the investment as another important step in raising the standard of care, and strengthening the integration of public and private healthcare services across the country.
The Head of State highlighted the advancement and transformation taking place across Guyana’s healthcare system, pointing to the progress in technology, facility expansion, and overall system capacity, which, he said, Balwant Singh Hospital plays as a key part of that transformation.
“This hospital and this family are an important part of this transformation. They are not only improving the level of service, but are also investing in the facilities and infrastructure that will allow them to develop and deliver world-class service.
I am pleased to say to you that we have been engaging the private sector along with the rest of the avenues. And soon we will be signing on with a number of other private sector entities. What you see here will be the norm across all of Georgetown; that is the standard we want to set,” President Ali said.
Citing the unified vision for the healthcare system pioneered by the Government through the Ministry of Health, President Ali explained that investments like the pavilion form part of a cohesive national health ecosystem.

ALL PART OF OUR HEALTH ECOSYSTEM
“As we celebrate your investment, it is all part of that health ecosystem. Because we want healthcare to have no distinction between public and private. You go to public or private as a choice,” he said.
Moreover, the president added that the facility highlights sustainable steps towards creating a solid healthcare system for now and for years ahead. As he put it: “It is evident from what I have already seen that we are building and upgrading health facilities in the public and private sector to meet the needs of our country 40, 50 years from now. And that is what is extraordinary.”
Reflecting on his visit to the new pavilion, the President praised its infrastructure and quality.
“As to the level of infrastructure, the facilities, the cleanliness…it feels as if you are passing through a quality facility,” he said.
Moreover, the President noted that the dedicated outpatient pavilion reflects a forward-looking philosophy of care.
“When you have a dedicated space, a pavilion for outpatient, it tells you the mindset behind care, behind service, where you can invest in the comfort of those who will pass through these doors. It tells you that the institution is forward-looking,” Ali said.
Also addressing the audience was Chief Executive Officer of the Balwant Singh Hospital, Dr. Madhu Singh, who spoke on the institution’s development throughout the years, where the hospital has evolved into a comprehensive multi-speciality medical centre, achieving several milestones in specialities and technology.
She explained the need for expansion and the vision behind the new pavilion, noting that it is a much-needed facility, with patient numbers continuing to grow and outpacing the hospital’s original building.
“Three years ago, we embarked on an ambitious project to rehabilitate and expand our existing facility. It became clear that our original building could no longer accommodate our increasing daily patient volume.

UNIQUE PATIENT EXPERIENCE
More importantly, we sought to create a space that would offer a unique and comfortable patient experience. From that vision, the concept of the Outpatient Pavilion was born,” she said.
Dr. Singh outlined that the six-storey building is constructed with international accreditation standards in mind, and prioritises patient-care efficiency while ensuring staff comfort.
“The pavilion stands six stories tall, and was constructed with international accreditation standards in mind. Each floor is thoughtfully designed to optimise patient care, incorporating clean and soiled utility areas as well as dedicated staff lounges to ensure quality, safety and professional efficiency,” she said.

Recognising different patient demographics and their distinct healthcare needs, the facility, which was locally financed by Demerara Bank and the Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry (GBTI) was structured to house each speciality within its own dedicated floor.
COMPREHENSIVE WOMEN’S SERVICES
She further explained that the first floor offers comprehensive women’s services and the second floor houses a dermatology and cosmetic laser centre. The third floor is dedicated to ophthalmology and the optical centre, while the fourth floor provides general surgical and medical outpatient services and the fifth floor features a brand-new idea centre built to international standards.
Dr. Singh described the pavilion as pioneering within the local context and shared current patient figures, noting that in addition to being among the first of its kind locally, the facility is already serving hundreds of Guyanese.
“This facility is truly among the first of its kind in Guyana and we are humbled by the overwhelming response from our community. We are currently serving an average of 400 patients a week within this new pavilion,” she said.
Continuing on the note of collective and collaborative development within the healthcare sector, Dr. Singh credited the President’s leadership for fostering private-sector growth in healthcare.
“At the foundation of this progress has been His Excellency’s steadfast commitment to encouraging private sector investment and advancement within the healthcare industry,” adding, “We are fortunate to have a national leader whose vision continuously promotes robust development in the health sector.”