The Government of Guyana launched its $10,000 Universal Healthcare Voucher programme for citizens, a move expected to benefit about 500,000 individuals.
The programme doesn’t just involve a $10,000 voucher being given to citizens. With this voucher, citizens can also access subsidised health services at many healthcare facilities across the country.
In simpler terms, you can use your healthcare voucher to pay for certain services which are also being offered at a discounted rate.
So, how do the vouchers and discounts work?
Well, the Ministry of Health provided a list of the subsidised cost for various health services. Once you take your voucher to the health facilities that partnered with the government, you will pay the reduced cost instead of the cost the facility charged before.
For example, an adult with the voucher can get a Complete Blood Count (CBC) done at one of the private facilities partnering with the government for a lower cost of $3,000.
The News Room engaged two private healthcare providers on the cost of the CBC on Monday. Ordinarily, the CBC costs between $4,000 and $5,800 for adults.
This reduction exists for a range of other tests and services.
Based on the information from the Ministry of Health, an individual should pay $3,000 for a kidney function test and $5,000 for a thyroid function test. A medical laboratory in Georgetown told the News Room that these tests usually cost $19,500 (kidney function) and $9,000 (thyroid function).
If a person chooses to do a combination of tests with the voucher, they will still get the discounted rates. If the total goes above $10,000, however, they will be required to pay the difference.
The full list of the subsidised services that can be accessed with the voucher is below:
Adults
o Complete Blood Count and Differential – $3000
o Liver Function Tests – $4000
o Kidney Function Tests – $3000
o Thyroid Function Tests – $5000
o Lipid Profile Tests – $5000
o Prostate Specific Antigen Test – $4000
o Faecal Occult Blood Test – $1000
o Urine Analysis – $2000
o HbA1c – $4000
Children
– Neonates 7-28 days old
o Thyroid Function Tests – $5000
o Haemoglobin Electrophoresis – $10,000
– Infants (less than 1 year old)
o Thyroid Function Tests – $5000
o Complete Blood Count with Differential – $4000
o Haemoglobin Electrophoresis – $10,000
o Kidney Function Tests – $3000
– Children 1- 5 years of age
o Complete Blood Count with Differential – $4000
o Haemoglobin Electrophoresis – $10,000
o Kidney Function Tests – $3000
o Thyroid Function Tests – $5000
o Lipid Profile Tests – $5000
o HbA1c – $4000
o Urine Analysis – $2000
– Children 6 – 17 years of age
o Lipid Profile Tests – $5000
o Urine Analysis – $2000
o HbA1c – $4000
o Complete Blood Count With Differential – $4000
o Kidney Function Tests – $3000
The Ministry of Health also shared the list of participating private centres, though the News Room understands the list is still being updated as more facilities join the programme.
This programme was first announced in January when Finance Minister, Dr. Ashni Singh presented the 2025 National Budget. It was conceptualised to help finance a “basic menu” of health services, according to Dr. Singh.
On Saturday, President Dr. Irfaan Ali and Health Minister Dr. Frank Anthony launched the voucher.
“Once you have this voucher it is not only about 10,000 but it is about the 40 to 70% discount of services you will receive at the private hospitals and centers,” President Ali said on Saturday.
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