Prime Minister Dr. Terrance Drew has announced the formation of a Health Care Steering Committee, signalling a transformative step in the ongoing modernisation of healthcare services in St. Kitts and Nevis. The announcement was made during a recent sitting of the National Assembly, where Dr. Drew outlined the committee’s purpose, composition and its role in reshaping the Federation’s healthcare delivery system.
The new committee, which will hold its first meeting within the next two weeks, is expected to play a strategic oversight role in national health governance. It will include representatives from the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Finance, the Medical and Dental Association, the Ministry of Social Services, the Permanent Secretary of Health, the Principal Nursing Officer, non-governmental organisations, community services, and private sector stakeholders.
“This will function as a body that will steer the direction of health here in St. Kitts and Nevis,” Dr. Drew told the National Assembly. “Many of our existing structures are no longer fit for purpose and require reformation to meet the evolving needs of our people.”
Complementing this high-level body, Dr. Drew also announced the formation of an internal committee within the Ministry of Health. Together, these initiatives represent a comprehensive approach to strengthening the nation’s healthcare framework.
The Prime Minister highlighted that the healthcare reform journey began with addressing critical infrastructure issues at the Joseph N. France (JNF) General Hospital. These included repairing a long-leaking roof, resolving issues with air conditioning, upgrading medical equipment such as CT scanners, ventilators and dialysis machines, and rehabilitating the operating theatres, morgue and foyer.
Dr. Drew reported that millions of dollars have already been invested in modernising the hospital, noting the depth of the improvements and the partnerships that made them possible. One notable collaboration involves the Republic of China (Taiwan), which is supporting the rehabilitation of the psychiatric ward.
“We are nearing the completion of the MRI housing, an investment of over USD $1.7 million,” he said, expressing optimism that the MRI machine will soon arrive in the Federation.
In tandem with infrastructure development, the government has prioritised human resource strengthening. Dr. Drew detailed the expansion of the medical team, boasting the largest and most diverse group of specialists in JNF’s history.
“We now have specialists in endocrinology, urology, anesthesiology, ophthalmology, gynaecology, nephrology, oncology, and more,” he said. “This is the highest number of specialty areas we have ever covered.”
He revealed plans to form a Medical Executive Team at the hospital, comprising head specialists from each ward, including emergency, paediatrics, surgery, and internal medicine.
Looking ahead, the Prime Minister called for public participation in the reform process. “None of these things can be achieved if the people are not part of the journey,” he said. “As we did with national security and other national endeavours, the community must be involved in building structures that truly serve them.”
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