Working Paper Series: Special Edition of 2016 to 2018 Interns

Currently, Saint Lucia’s epidemiological context is characterized by a decline in infectious diseases and an increase in chronic non-communicable diseases. Over the last five years the leading causes of death have been overtaken by chronic non-communicable diseases including cancers, cerebrovascular diseases, heart diseases, diabetes mellitus and it complications including renal failure, hypertension and chronic lower respiratory diseases. However, health infrastructure and professionals have not quite caught up to the changing epidemiological context and because of this every year there is a great number of Saint Lucians who travel to Cuba, neighbouring Martinique and the USA for treatment of their ailments by specialists who have access to better technology. The commissioning of two new hospitals, the St. Judes Hospital in the south and the Owen King EU National Hospital in the north, provides an opportunity to not only address the infrastructural deficiencies but to tackle the technological, human resource and research deficits as well. In terms of human resource, there is a shortage in specialist physicians and nurses as it relates to chronic non-communicable diseases. There is also very little research into the localized causes and solutions. Government should continue to facilitate training for health professionals in specialized areas, such as in diabetes treatment and renal care. Partnerships with friendly foreign neighbours like Cuba as well as with the University of the West Indies should be continued however, these partnerships should extend to the offshore medical schools on the island, which not only can provide support for human resource training but can serve as a channel for financing to support quality research on localized epidemics. The health sector is principally financed through government fiscal allocations, donor contributions, out-of- pocket payments and private insurance schemes. Opening up the services beyond national shores could be considered as an additional means of financing. Globally, health tourism generates billions annually. In that regard, the country could leverage costs compared to the US dollar and the Euro and the attractiveness of the destination in selling the island as a designated research and treatment center.

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