The Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation is working to reduce a backlog of patients awaiting joint replacement surgeries. Since the start of this year, the public hospital has completed a total of 136 joint replacement surgeries, which were all performed locally by Guyanese specialists.

The procedures, which are being done for free at the GPHC, usually carry a cost of up to $2.5 million each at private hospitals.

This past weekend (November 7 – 9), the surgeons successfully completed 28 joint replacement surgeries, surpassing a three day target of 27.

In a statement, the Georgetown Hospital explained that the team, which was led by Dr Kaaleshwar Ramcharran, with orthopedic surgeons, anesthetists, physiotherapists, nurses, and theatre staff carried out 18 knee replacements and 10 hip replacements, bringing life-changing relief to 22 women and 6 men.

Many of the patients have been living with chronic pain, reduced mobility, and long waits for care, the hospital’s statement said.

The GPHC explained that all of the surgeries were conducted at the hospital by Guyanese medical professionals, demonstrating the hospital’s expanding capacity to deliver high-quality, specialized services at no direct cost to patients.

“This achievement underscores GPHC’s commitment to improving surgical access, enhancing patient outcomes, and steadily shortening waiting lists for essential orthopedic care. All patients from last weekend’s initiative have been discharged and are expected to continue their recovery at home”, the statement noted.

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