GPHC Caribbean’s leading kidney transplant centre, each recipient saves almost GY$90 million

Last Updated on Wednesday, 3 December 2025, 21:45 by Writer

The state-owned Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) on Wednesday said it had emerged as the Caribbean’s leading kidney transplantation centre, saving recipients at least US$400,000 (GY$87.2 million) to US$500,000 (GYD$109 million) in market cost for such a surgery, officials said.

Chief Executive Officer of GPHC, Robbie Rambarran said a number of persons from other Caribbean countries had undergone such a surgery at the hospital free of cost.

“In the Caribbean, we are leading this year with transplants done,” he said, noting four Caribbean nations’ —Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, The Bahamas, and Trinidad and Tobago — total of six compared to Guyana’s 13 so far for this year.

“This milestone builds on years of structured development and success,” he said.

The GPHC chief said in 2023, the hospital performed its first kidney transplant on the youngest patient in the Caribbean, a 20 kilogramme baby, the first laparoscopic donor nephrectomy in 2024 and eight surgeries each in 2023 and 2024.

The GPHC CEO praised all members of the team ranging from the attendants to the surgeons, Dr Kishore Persaud and Dr Hemraj Ramcharran.

Dr Persaud, a multi-organ transplant specialist, praised the team of doctors, nurses, pharmacists and administrative staff for helping GPHC lead the Caribbean in organ transplants. “Culturally, there is sometimes a belief that outsiders can do it better than our own. Today, I proudly sit here to say that these surgeries were performed entirely by the doctors and staff of the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation. We’re presently the only transplant centre in the Caribbean that does pair exchange transplant and now we’re leading the way forward by doing the first chain transplant at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation and the Caribbean,” Dr Persaud said.

Mr Rambarran said the eight surgeries from September 29 to October 2 amounted to “astronomical work” as it was the first time that the GPHC was engaging in chain kidney transplant surgery.

That process entails a family member donating a kidney, even if it is not compatible with the intended recipient, and in turn the hospital finding someone with a kidney that can be transplanted. Instead of giving directly to the intended recipient, the first donor gives it to another patient who is compatible.

Recipients and donors, who participated in the press conference, told reporters of the excellent service before admission, counselling and preparation, surgery and follow-up access to the doctors after discharge.

Health minister Dr Frank Anthony did not rule out the possibility of foreign patients being eventually asked to pay for such “very. very expensive” surgeries at the GPHC. “As we improve the system, I think in the future, we’ll have opportunities to provide very complex surgeries in Guyana and at that point, maybe, this is something, perhaps, would be considered,” he said.

In terms of testing, he said the cost for certain tests could be as high as US$3,000 per patient in the US.

He said a doctor would soon leave for India’s Apollo Hospital to return and work closely with the National Public Health Reference Laboratory to conduct human leukocyte antigen (HLA) testing and interpretation.

Plans are also in train to provide doctors with additional training at transplant centres in Spain and neighbouring Brazil, as well as India and Canada.

Mr Rambarran said that while the GPHC alone was seeing more patients with kidney disease and providing dialysis and performing surgeries, that was a major indicator that more Guyanese were having kidney problems.

Latest figures show that from 2023 to date, the GPHC has registered 2,200 persons diagnosed with kidney disease.

He said of the 368 patients, who are on dialysis, 246 started this year. “These are some alarming numbers and this does not constitute what happens at other public health facilities and in the private sector,” he said.

The GPHC has been admitting “very sick” patients with the majority of them not sticking to their dialysis treatment.

He said a significant number of them are receiving subsidies but are not taking dialysis.

Mr Rambarran said 20 of the 29 in-patients are on dialysis. “The demand for dialysis (and) kidney transplant, I can say, exceeds our capacity and this certainly is call to action,” he added.

One of the recipients, Samantha Ault, praised the “amazing transplant team” at GPHC in contrast to a previous transplant in Trinidad and Tobago.

She recommended more awareness about the availability of kidney transplantation service at the GPHC.

Fellow recipient David Singh, who received treatment prior in the United States, also credited the work of the local doctors who are always available by phone or text. “I’ve never seen a team of doctors that are so loving and caring like Dr Kishore and his team,” he said.

He appealed to persons, who know others with kidney failure, to donate a kidney.

Mr Akeem Ault, who donated one of his kidneys, said the service at the GPHC exceeded his expectations. “My time here has been great. It changed my entire narrative that I had about hospitals especially Georgetown Hospital. I have been recommending Georgetown Hospital since I have been here,” he said.

Saying that his original donor was his mother but it could have been rejected due to antibodies, he praised Dr Kishore for being very reassuring.

He specifically praised the doctors and nurses and the entire staff.