First batch of biomedical technicians trained

The Ministry of Health (MoH) says it has marked a historic milestone in the enhancement of healthcare infrastructure in the country with the successful training of the first cohort of biomedical technicians.

In a release yesterday, the MoH announced that it had successfully concluded the first round of the Biomedical Technician Training Initiative which saw a group of 38 students set to graduate from the programme. All students will be certified with a City and Guilds Certificate.

It was explained that this groundbreaking programme was funded by the Government of Guyana and provided by Medical Aid International, a UK-based healthcare solutions provider.

According to the release, these newly-trained biomedical technicians are expected to make a significant impact on the public health sector as they assume crucial roles in hospitals across the country. The MoH explained that the employment of trained biomedical technicians within public hospitals is a strategic move to elevate the standards of patient care by ensuring the proficient repair and maintenance of medical equipment throughout the healthcare system.

It was also pointed out that each trainee has received comprehensive support to foster their professional development, including essential resources such as a laptop, a professional-grade toolkit, and access to a digital library of service manuals. These provisions, the release noted, are designed to empower the graduates and equip them with the tools necessary to excel in their new roles.

Meanwhile, the participants praised the initiative and according to one graduate, “The course overall was very informative and structured to cater to a person who is new to learning about the field of biomedical engineering as well as a biomedical technician who has been working for years.”

And another graduate remarked, “The knowledge I obtained allowed me to look at and understand the equipment I handle in a different light, which then allowed me to adapt and change how I go about repairing medical equipment.”

The release also disclosed that planning is already underway for the next cohort of biomedical technician trainees, in addition to the second phase of training, both of which are planned for 2024.

A formal graduation ceremony is scheduled to take place in January 2024.