THE Ministry of Health has significantly expanded Guyana’s blood banking capacity, improving storage, collection, and support for life-saving surgeries across the country.
Adressing the National Assembly, Deputy Speaker and Director-General of the Ministry of Health Dr. Vishwa Mahadeo, during his parliamentary presentation on Budget 2026 said: “Before 2019, we were storing blood at only 11 health facilities across the country; now we are storing blood at 34 health facilities across the country.”
He added that prior to 2019, blood collection efforts were limited to just four regions, but significant progress has been made since then.
“Currently, we have sensitised people in all the regions; we have voluntary donors in all 10 regions of Guyana. We have increased blood collection to over 12,000 units per year, Mr. Speaker,” Dr. Mahadeo said.
The expansion has strengthened Guyana’s ability to support complex medical procedures, particularly cardiac surgeries. Before 2019, the country supported approximately 20 heart surgeries per year, with at least six units of blood on standby for each. By 2025, over 100 heart surgeries were performed, taking six units of blood each.
The National Blood Transfusion Center (NBTS) is responsible for collecting, storing, and distributing blood across all regions of Guyana, ensuring that hospitals and health facilities have a reliable supply for emergencies and surgical procedures.
The delivery of blood, blood products, and other medical supplies is expected to be significantly accelerated once the drone system, which has already undergone successful testing, becomes fully operational. These improvements, including infrastructure upgrades, enhanced training, increased staffing, and the procurement of modern equipment, are all part of President Dr. Irfaan Ali’s vision to deliver world-class healthcare to every citizen across Guyana.