Health in Guyana

Compared with other neighbouring countries, Guyana ranks poorly in regard to basic health indicators. Basic health services in the interior are primitive to non-existent, and some procedures are not available at all. Although Guyana's health profile falls short in comparison with many of its Caribbean neighbours, there has been remarkable progress since 1988, and the Ministry of Health is working to upgrade conditions, procedures, and facilities. Many Guyanese seek medical care in the United States, Trinidad and Tobago or Cuba.

The Human Rights Measurement Initiative^[1] finds that Guyana is fulfilling 69.3% of what it should be fulfilling for the right to health based on its level of income.^[2] When looking at the right to health with respect to children, Guyana achieves 90.9% of what is expected based on its current income.^[2] In regards to the right to health amongst the adult population, the country achieves only 76.3% of what is expected based on the nation's level of income.^[2] Guyana falls into the "very bad" category when evaluating the right to reproductive health because the nation is fulfilling only 40.8% of what the nation is expected to achieve based on the resources (income) it has available.^[2]