KINGSTOWN, St. Vincent, CMC – Prime Minister Dr. Godwin Friday says the government will begin a three-year phase-out of the reliance on Cuban district medical officers, as he outlined a new vision for the health sector in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
Earlier this month, the United States said it is committed to holding accountable Cuban regime officials, foreign government officials, and others for facilitating forced labour in Cuba’s medical missions.
“By participating in these programmes, despite known human rights abuses, foreign governments become complicit in the regime’s tactics. Their actions directly contribute to the abuses of Cuban workers.
“There are alternative methods available for Caribbean nations to recruit foreign medical workers and ethically meet the healthcare needs of their people. The United States calls on all governments and peoples to reject forced labour schemes and join us in demanding accountability and respect for human rights.”
Delivering the first budget of EC$1.9 billion (One EC dollar=US$0.37 cents) to Parliament since the New Democratic Party (NDP) won the November 27 elections last year, Prime Minister Friday did not indicate whether or not the phasing out project is linked to the position outlined by Washington for regional governments to stop involvement in the Cuban health brigade programme.
But he told legislators that the health of the nation is the bedrock of productivity, resilience, and national development and that “access to affordable, high-quality healthcare is not merely a social service; it is a strategic investment in growth”.
He said that the total estimated expenditure for the Ministry of Health, Wellness, Environmental Health, and Energy in the budget stands at EC$117.5 million and that “this allocation reflects a holistic vision, one that nurtures mind, body, and spirit, while safeguarding the environmental services upon which public health depends.
“Our reform agenda is grounded in risk mitigation, self-reliance, and institutional strength. We are building a system that is resilient to shocks and responsive to local needs,” Friday said, adding, “accordingly, we are implementing a human resources for health plan, aligning skills with service demand and addressing critical staffing gaps.
He said under the heading Medical Staffing Localization, “we will begin a three-year phase-out of the reliance on Cuban District Medical Officers, starting with the recruitment of four local medical officers in 2026 to address language barriers and reduce foreign staffing costs.
“They may be redeployed elsewhere as needed,” he said.
Prime Minister Friday said that the country must also confront “an uncomfortable truth” revealed by the 2023 Census, that the island is facing a silent epidemic of non-communicable diseases.
“We now record 12,239 cases of hypertension and 7,039 cases of diabetes. These conditions reduce quality of life, strain families, and place growing pressure on the health system,” he said, telling legislators that a visit to the hospital “reveals a sad story.
“Many people with amputated limbs and vision problems caused by diabetes, sugar, as we call it. We are fully aware that more must be done to prevent and manage these chronic illnesses.
“The ancient wisdom in the saying ‘An ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure’ still applies. We will put it into practice in our health care system urgently and compellingly.”
He said that the health strategy begins not in hospitals but in communities, and that this year the government will introduce screening for breast, cervical, prostate, and colon cancers at all primary healthcare centres.
In addition, $1 million is being allocated to a Patient Support Unit to coordinate overseas radiotherapy and other life-saving interventions.
“We are revising policy frameworks to strengthen mental health services and enhance geriatric care at the Lewis Punnett Home through updated admission policies and targeted staff training,” Friday said, adding that, supported by a six-million-dollar grant from Taiwan, “we are implementing a comprehensive Health Information System, digitising records and enabling data-driven planning and accountability”.
“The road ahead is demanding. But by focusing on stabilisation, localisation, and quality, this government is building a health system that is resilient in crisis, responsive in care, and respectful of every Vincentian.”
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