Top things to know
- Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation completed 100 robotic-assisted surgeries within five months of launching its program in May 2026.
- Surgeries were performed across three specialties: General Surgery (47), Gynaecology (34), and Urology (19).
- GPHC plans to expand the program by training additional local surgeons across all three disciplines to broaden surgical capacity in Guyana.
The Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation in Guyana has achieved a major healthcare milestone by completing 100 robotic-assisted surgical procedures within five months of introducing the technology. Since the launch of its Robotic Surgery Programme on May 26, 2026, the hospital has deployed advanced robotic systems across three surgical disciplines: General Surgery, Gynaecology, and Urology. Hospital officials stated that reaching the 100-procedure mark reflects rapid adoption of modern surgical care aimed at improving patient outcomes and expanding access to specialized medical procedures.
The General Surgery department led the overall volume, conducting 47 of the 100 robotic-assisted operations. Key procedures executed by the general surgery team included gallbladder removals, technically known as cholecystectomies, along with inguinal hernia repairs and colectomies involving the partial removal of the large intestine. The surgical team also carried out single-anastomosis gastric bypass operations, a specialized weight-loss procedure that joins the stomach directly to the small intestine.
In the Gynaecology division, surgical teams completed 34 procedures using the robotic platform. The interventions encompassed complex reproductive healthcare surgeries, including total abdominal hysterectomies for womb removal and ovarian cystectomies for the removal of ovarian cysts. Gynaecological surgeons also performed bilateral salpingo-oophorectomies to remove both ovaries and fallopian tubes, alongside salpingectomies for targeted fallopian tube removal.
The Urology unit accounted for 19 robotic procedures targeting complex conditions of the urinary and reproductive systems. Among these were vesicovaginal fistula repairs to correct abnormal connections between the bladder and vagina, as well as prostatectomies for prostate removal and nephrectomies for kidney removal. Urological specialists also performed pyeloplasties to repair narrowed areas where the kidney drains urine, varicocelectomies to treat enlarged testicular veins, and renal cyst marsupialisations to open and drain kidney cysts.
Robotic-assisted surgery utilizes computerized robotic arms equipped with specialized instruments and high-definition visual interfaces. Operating surgeons remain in complete control of the system throughout every stage of the surgical intervention, utilizing the technology to achieve superior precision, dexterity, and steady visualization compared to traditional methods. GPHC stated that the successful execution of these initial 100 cases demonstrates the growing proficiency of its surgical teams.
Looking forward, the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation plans to expand its robotic surgery initiative by launching a comprehensive training program for additional local surgeons across General Surgery, Urology, and Gynaecology. According to hospital leadership, expanding the pool of trained medical professionals will build long-term local expertise and ensure that a broader cross-section of patients across Guyana can benefit from minimally invasive robotic surgical techniques.