Eureka Medical Laboratory…Staying ahead of the Competition

Apr 07, 2014 News

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By Kiana Wilburg

The world of medical enterprise is a savage one. It involves the mastery of a different kind of trust. It requires of the businessman in this field to build trust with the credibility and reliability of his science and technology whilst navigating his way through competitors who are hungry to stay on top, regardless of the cost to do so.
Mr. Andrew Boyle, a Rotarian and proud owner of Eureka Medical Laboratory, which has enjoyed 19 years of stable growth and development, is a modern day daredevil. He dares to stay ahead of the competition honestly, which is by no means, any easy feat. Tough decisions, major investments and a critical understanding of the needs of Guyana’s health care system have led him to be one of the most successful owners of a laboratory that is known nationally as well as regionally.

In an interview, earlier this week, Boyle gave me a front row seat into his world as a businessman and devoted husband and father.
Child hood and Education
William Andrew Boyle, fondly known as ‘Andy Boyle’ is the third of ten siblings. His parents; Claudia and the late William Boyle, created a comfortable and modest home for their family at Kimbia which is located 79 miles up the Berbice River. As a lad, Boyle recalled the days when his daily chores entailed milking cows and watering plants before paddling for one hour in order to get to school.
“I remember those days when I would paddle with my siblings to the Kimbia Primary school even when it rained. But I do remember that it was my grandfather, Menzo Bender who influenced significantly, the core principles I have to this day. I remember grandpa and I would sit together and he would share very important lessons with me. One such lesson was that your word is your bond. This meant that a commitment if made must be honoured,” Boyle expressed.
But a regimented daily routine at a very early age helped to cultivate the necessary value system and attitude, Boyle needed for success. This was reflected in his exceptional performance at the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) exams.
After his primary school phase was over, he progressed to the New Amsterdam Multilateral School where he was an outstanding student in the Science field. Based on his results, the young Boyle was awarded a government scholarship to study microbiology in Cuba. But before leaving for Cuba, he was given his first introduction to the world of commerce and business management, as he had returned to Kimbia to manage his parent’s grocery shop and bar.
He finally travelled to Cuba and fell in love with the study of Microbiology. It was during his undergraduate studies that he started preparing for the realization of a dream of one day establishing his own laboratory. After successfully completing his course, he returned to Guyana. He worked for five years at the Georgetown Public Hospital and for ten years as a lecturer at the University of Guyana. Additionally, Boyle was the past President and Chairman of the Allied Health Professionals Council and is currently pursuing his MBA in Finance and Marketing.

Finding love and making a dream a reality
While working at the Hospital, Boyle stumbled into Dr. Karen Gordon, ‘a woman of exceptional class and taste,’ who stole his heart upon sight.
Discovering that they shared common dreams and visions among other similarities, led to a relationship upon which an unbreakable bond was created through marriage. From this union came three children; Mark Anthony, Andrew Yannick and Keziah Renee Boyle.
After completing his contractual obligations, in 1995 Boyle and his wife set out to establish a laboratory to meet the growing demand for quality laboratory services in Guyana. After careful research on the market structure and a study of Guyana’s economic and medical makeup, a proposed plan was created and the name Eureka was chosen. Boyle says that the name —Eureka (‘I found it’) was ideal as it was a precise representation of the vision he and his wife had for the laboratory that would assist with the diagnoses of illnesses and support doctors and patients in their quest for health maintenance and restoration.

Though it started out humbly, after 19 years, there are now nine Eureka branches in Guyana and St. Vincent. Services are provided at Parika, Charity, Anna Regina, New Amsterdam, Rose Hall, Linden, Bartica and Georgetown.

The Eureka Medical Laboratory
Today, Eureka offers a complete package of medical services and facilitates all tests and laboratory examinations.
“We have several services which we provide and these include prenatal testing, tests for chronic diseases such as diabetes, infectious diseases testing, ultra sounds, digital x-rays, medical clinics, exotic testing, insurance medicals, you name it we do it. There was a growing demand for paternity testing though which we ensured was satisfied through partnerships with overseas based laboratories and having DNA diagnostic capacity. This is one area that has given me immense satisfaction…”
“Considering the health care system in Guyana, I am generally satisfied but there is more that can be done. We are doing our part to contribute towards the improvement of health care service in Guyana.
“We have accomplished a lot as an institution and we are playing our part in the world of health care. I take my job very seriously. In the medical field it is important to always ensure that you provide customers with quality service, confidentiality and that you are also improving your business package. I always ensure I am providing all three. The thing about my business is that I see it as a second home. I always ensure that customers are comfortable when they come to Eureka and that they feel confident about the services we are providing.”
“I am grateful for…
While Boyle enjoys playing the alto saxophone and is very passionate about fishing and would even test his skills at a little competitive chess game, there are several things in his life for which he is extremely grateful.
“Being where I am today has not come without challenges. I have learnt to overcome them professionally. I am indebted to God, my children, my hardworking staff, numerous friends and my extremely supportive wife. I love her dearly. She has always pushed me to be a better person and the business we have demands much from us but it has not placed a wedge between us. In fact, it has served to strengthen daily the love we have for something so profound and that is providing quality health care service in Guyana. I am happy to have her support.”
In August, 2013, the staunch business owner and his siblings started a farming venture known as the Amazonia Farms. Inc but Boyle with a fetching smile said, ‘That’s another story I am willing to share at another time.”

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