GEORGETOWN, Guyana — Guyana is preparing to enter a new era in medical care, with the country’s first robotic-assisted surgical procedure expected to take place before the end of 2026, President Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali disclosed Friday.
Speaking at the launch of the Guyana Digital School at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre, Ali said the milestone will involve U.S.-based specialists performing operations in Guyana through advanced robotic systems — a development he framed as a defining marker of the country’s technological evolution.
Ali said the coming breakthrough is a direct outgrowth of the government’s push to expand digital training and build a workforce prepared for a world where robotics, artificial intelligence and remote connectivity increasingly shape frontline services, including medicine.
“We will soon reach the point where surgeons sitting in the United States can perform procedures here in Guyana,” Ali told the gathering, noting that the Digital School is already exposing students to the types of environments where those technologies intersect.
He said the move toward robotic surgery reflects the administration’s broader effort to modernise national systems and position Guyana at the forefront of the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
Around the world, robotic-assisted surgeries are becoming more common in complex medical settings, offering greater precision, fewer complications and shorter recovery times. Ali said Guyana’s transition into this space is consistent with global trends, and with the government’s efforts to strengthen public health through major diagnostic upgrades, new telemedicine hubs and expanded hospital services in remote areas.
Describing robotic surgery as the “next logical step,” Ali said the initiative aligns with Guyana’s long-term plan to create a health sector capable of meeting the needs of 2050 and beyond.