Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health, Curtis Martin, has reaffirmed the government’s commitment to prioritising patient experience as part of its ongoing efforts to transform and stabilise the nation’s healthcare system. Speaking on the weekly programme In Focus, Martin highlighted key advancements made since he assumed the role less than a year ago and underscored the Labour Party administration’s dedication to fulfilling its election promise of improved healthcare delivery.
While outlining the Ministry’s strategic direction, Martin emphasised the need for stability, sustainability, and efficiency. He noted that upon assuming office, his initial task was to assess and reorganise the Ministry’s financial and human resources to ensure effective service delivery.
“The Honourable Prime Minister and Minister of Health, Dr. Terence Drew, had asked me to begin the process of stabilising the Ministry—its finances, its resources, human resources—and also to begin a transformation journey which we have started,” Martin explained.
The transformation process, he noted, was essential given the growing demands on the healthcare sector, including post-pandemic recovery, emerging infectious diseases, climate-related health challenges, and rising cases of chronic illnesses such as diabetes, cancer, obesity, and mental health disorders.
Additionally, the Ministry has placed a renewed emphasis on ensuring the sustainability of healthcare financing and workforce development in alignment with the national strategic plan for a sustainable island state.
Permanent Secretary Martin pointed out several major challenges affecting healthcare services, including the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, the effects of climate change on health, and the increasing financial burden of treating non-communicable diseases. He also addressed concerns regarding the accessibility and affordability of healthcare services.
He noted that because of such challenges, there is a need to build resilience and ensure the sector’s ability to maintain essential services amid inevitable shocks such as hurricanes, economic downturns, and sudden surges in demand for healthcare services.
Among the significant developments within the Ministry of Health is the ongoing move towards constructing a new hospital, a project that Martin credited to a dedicated team led by Dr. Jenson Morton. He assured the public that efforts remain steadfast in ensuring that this facility is completed to provide high-quality healthcare to the people of St. Kitts and Nevis.
Martin stated that his Ministry’s primary focus continues to be improving patient experience. He differentiated between patient service and patient experience, emphasising that the latter is an inward-looking approach aimed at ensuring that every individual feels valued and well cared for within the healthcare system.
“This year is really about customer service, patient service. And it’s not even patient service, but patient service experience. Because service is outward-looking, experience is inward-looking. And we want to make sure that when people walk away, they can, in fact, say that they would have had a good experience. So, we have pockets where we need to improve,” Martin elaborated.
The Joseph N. France (JNF) General Hospital, which sees approximately 29,000 patients annually, remains a major component of the healthcare system. While acknowledging concerns occasionally raised in the public domain, Martin highlighted the competence and dedication of the hospital’s medical staff, further underscoring the government’s commitment to enhancing healthcare infrastructure, improving service delivery, and fostering a patient-centred approach.
During the discussion, Martin continually expressed gratitude to the Ministry of Health staff for their unwavering dedication to providing healthcare services.
The Ministry also has a vision to equip local health centres to offer even more comprehensive patient services to ease some of the demand on the main hospital.
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