Georgetown - Post Report Question and Answers
Are there any particular health concerns? What is the quality of available medical care? What medical conditions typically require medical evacuation?
Yes. If you are unhealthy, you should not come here. If you become unhealthy, you should leave to get care. I would evacuate for any medical condition beyond a cold. The medical practitioners are extremely patronizing and are not used to dealing with people that ask questions. I asked to have my hormones checked and was told "women have a lot of hormones, which hormones do you want checked?" in a snide and condescending way. So be aware, there is little to no female care here. Sanitary issues are always a problem, primarily in food preparation but also just in general. Men urinate wherever they want, livestock and strays defecate all over the streets, driveways and yards. We treat the family regularly for parasites. Stomach problems are not uncommon. The international school has no process in place for school injuries. Children have suffered severe head injuries on a number of occasions that were not reported to parents. - Apr 2024
No particular health concerns. The healthcare equipment appears to be about 50 years behind the U.S. The medical personnel are a toss up. Some are very well trained and some aren't. My employer evacuates for anything that would require a hospital stay. - Jun 2022
Definitely some exotic tropical experiences in the medical arena, but of course currently Covid is the top concern. Local health care facilities aren't great, almost everyone just goes to the US if something needs done. - Aug 2021
Guyana has limited medical infrastructure. Private clinics and hospitals will offer a slightly higher standard of care, but most people who have complicated injuries or illnesses leave Guyana and seek treatment in the United States. - Sep 2020
Road conditions are terrible, so car accidents are a daily concern. Guyana also has the full spectrum of tropical and mosquito/tick-borne diseases (although Georgetown itself is malaria free, so you don’t need daily meds unless you're traveling to the interior). Hospitals in Georgetown lack modern technology and training, and medical facilities are extremely limited. If you suffer anything worse than a routine stomach bug or cold virus, you’ll need to medevac to Miami for adequate care. Dentists are also few and far between, so best to take care of any root canals or orthodontia in the United States during your R&R. - Aug 2019
Medical care is what you would expect in a developing country. - Sep 2016
THe medical care is deplorable. There is one private hospital that is good and you can pay extra to have an appointment and not wait in the line. Most of the hospitals lack real sanitation and modern facilities. - Apr 2014
There definitely are concerns. The main reason for that is that the quality of medical care is much, much lower than that available in the U.S. - Nov 2013
This is a concern. Medical care is extremely limited and both types of dengue fever have been an issue for some of the members of the expat community in the past. Parents of small children and pregnant women should be aware of this before coming. - May 2012
Health care is a major concern here. The hospital the embassy uses is very old and out-dated. There is a newer private hospital in town and more staff are going there, as it seems to be cleaner and more modern. All prescription meds should be brought with you or shipped in. Water is provided through a home distiller, so is not fluoridated -- the embassy provides fluoride pills for kids. Malaria pills are not required in town. Our family has good health overall, but the few times we have had to go to a local doctor, I have not had good experiences: the pharmacy didn't have the medicine my child needed in the proper strength or it was not refrigerated as it was supposed to be. - Mar 2012
YES! This is the poorest healthcare I've ever seen in my life. ZERO health standards. All the hospitals are dilapidated. the only one that is relatively modern is still comparative to a US inner-city free health clinic. There are 2 ambulances in the whole country, none of which are well equipped for first response. You are 16 times more likely to die of a car accident here than in the US. PLEASE put some serious thought into bringing your family to Georgetown, especially young children. We have people who have lived in Africa who say the healthcare situation was better in Africa than here! SERIOUSLY this is no joke. You have been warned. - Feb 2012
Medical care is not the greatest. Health concerns are dengue fever and malaria, mostly when outside of Georgetown. - Feb 2010
