EU-funded project launches to build Guyana’s 1st organ transplant system by 2028 – INews Guyana

2026-06-03 Newsfeed

Local health officials, along with clinical specialists, and international partners, at the launch of the EU-funded project to establish a sustainable organ donation and transplantation system in Guyana

The Health Ministry in collaboration with the European Union (EU) through its Global Gateway initiative, has launched a 31-month EU-funded project to establish a sustainable organ donation and transplantation system in Guyana.

The project, titled “Building a Sustainable Organ Donation and Transplantation Programme in Guyana,” is being implemented under the Guyana HealthNext: Training, Research and Development Programme, which is coordinated by Expertise France. The programme will run through to October 2028, and is expected to lay the groundwork for a comprehensive and internationally aligned organ donation and transplantation framework in Guyana.

“The project is led by the Donation and Transplantation Institute (DTI Foundation) in close partnership with the Guyana Human Organ and Tissue Transplant Agency (HOATTA) and the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC). It is designed to address the growing burden of chronic kidney disease and end-stage renal disease in Guyana, conditions that currently leave many patients dependent on dialysis with limited access to transplantation,” a statement from the EU Commission has said.

The kick-off event, hosted at the Health Ministry in Georgetown, brought together national health authorities, clinical specialists and international partners to mark the formal start of implementation and chart a shared strategic course for the coming years. The initiative is designed to address the increasing burden of chronic kidney disease and end-stage renal disease in Guyana. Conditions which have left many patients in Guyana reliant on dialysis while facing limited opportunities for life-saving organ transplantation.

“Over the course of the programme, activities will focus on establishing a fully operational national HLA (Human Leukocyte Antigen) laboratory, strengthening nephrology and transplant referral pathways, building institutional capacity for deceased organ donation, and supporting the development of a national governance framework aligned with international standards,” the statement said.

Delivering remarks at the event, Project Director at DTI, Dr Chloë Ballesté, described the programme as a transformative opportunity for Guyana’s healthcare system.

She noted that the initiative will help create the foundations for a modern and sustainable transplantation programme capable of improving patient outcomes and expanding access to advanced medical care. First Counsellor and Head of Cooperation of the EU Delegation to Guyana, Nadal, highlighted the broader regional significance of the programme.

“The initiative of the Ministry of Health will improve the lives of Guyanese and beyond in the Caribbean region; partnering with a world transplant leader as DTI represents a unique opportunity to merge Guyanese and EU global priorities,” he stated. The project is expected to position the country as a potential regional reference model for organ donation and transplantation in the Caribbean.

Planned coordination activities will involve the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) Caribbean, the Caribbean Community (Caricom), and neighbouring countries, fostering greater regional collaboration in transplant medicine and organ donation systems.