With regard to his social activism, Guyatt previously published a regular health column on the editorial pages of the "Winnipeg Free Press", and prior to that in "The Hamilton Spectator", In 1979, Guyatt co-founded the Medical Reform Group, a Canadian organization of physicians and medical students devoted to universal public health care. The group continued its work for 35 years, after which the Canadian Doctors for Medicare has led the Canadian progressive medical community in addressing the issues that were central to the Medical Reform Group.