Prime Minister Dr Godwin Friday has announced that St Vincent and the Grenadines will begin phasing out its reliance on Cuban medical personnel as part of a broader overhaul of the country’s healthcare system.

Delivering the 2026 Budget on February 9, Friday said the government will implement a three-year phase-out of Cuban District Medical Officers while moving to recruit and train more local healthcare professionals.

“We will begin a three-year phase-out of the reliance Cuban District Medical Officers, starting with the recruitment of four local Medical Officers in 2026 to address language barriers and reduce foreign staffing costs,” he said, noting that the Cuban personnel “may be redeployed elsewhere as needed.”

The move forms part of a wider health reform strategy aimed at strengthening institutional capacity and building a more self-reliant healthcare system.

Friday’s announcement came days after the United States, through its Embassy in Bridgetown, Barbados, which has responsibility for the Eastern Caribbean, urged regional governments to seek alternatives to Cuban medical professionals to address shortages in their health systems.

The embassy said countries that use the services of Cuban medical professionals may be complicit in human trafficking and forced labour and warned that their leaders could face consequences.

In a social media post on February 6, the United States Embassy in Barbados said the American government is committed to holding Cuban regime officials, foreign government officials and others accountable for facilitating forced labour in Cuba’s medical missions.

“The United States 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 programs, despite known human rights abuses, foreign governments become complicit in the regime’s tactics,” the embassy said.

For 2026, the Ministry of Health, Wellness, Environmental Health and Energy has been allocated an estimated EC$117.5 million, which the Prime Minister described as a critical investment in national development.

“The health of our nation is the bedrock of productivity, resilience, and national development. Access to affordable, high-quality healthcare is not merely a social service; it is a strategic investment in growth,” he said.

Friday warned that the country is facing mounting health challenges, particularly from non-communicable diseases. He cited 2023 Census data showing 12,239 cases of hypertension and 7,039 cases of diabetes nationwide.

He said these illnesses are placing increasing strain on the healthcare system and affecting families across the country.

“A trip to the wards at MCMH reveals a sad story. Many people with amputated limbs and vision problems caused by diabetes—sugar, as we call it,” he said.

The Prime Minister stressed that the government intends to strengthen prevention and early intervention efforts.

“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 in an urgent and compelling manner,” he said.

Beyond staffing reforms, the government is also seeking to expand access to healthcare services across the country. Plans include decentralising diagnostic services and improving laboratory quality systems, with a target of increasing patient access at community laboratories from 8 per cent to 18 per cent in 2026.

Dental services are also set for expansion with the hiring of two additional Dental Surgeons and two Dental Assistants, along with increased service capacity at facilities in Calliaqua and Chateaubelair.

The government is continuing work on the Arnos Vale Hospital, which is expected to become the country’s principal medical facility by consolidating maternity, paediatric and major hospital services.

“We will not leave paediatrics and maternity behind in Kingstown. Our women and our children are too important to be left behind,” Friday said.

Up to EC$1 million has also been allocated for urgent repairs to the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital, including roof and operating theatre upgrades to maintain services during the healthcare transition.

To improve efficiency, the government plans to construct an EC$2.5 million centralised prefabricated medical supply warehouse at Diamond, which is expected to reduce an estimated EC$350,000 in annual rental costs and improve supply logistics.

Authorities are also working to strengthen emergency medical services through standardised training and response protocols to improve national emergency response capacity.

Community-based healthcare initiatives will also be expanded in 2026. 

The government plans to introduce cancer screening for breast, cervical, prostate and colon cancers at all primary healthcare centres. 

An additional EC$1 million has been earmarked to establish a Patient Support Unit to help coordinate overseas radiotherapy and other specialised treatments.

Mental health and elderly care services are also being prioritised, with policy reforms and staff training planned to improve services at the Lewis Punnett Home.

In addition, the country is moving toward digital transformation in healthcare, supported by a US$6 million grant from Taiwan to implement a national Health Information System aimed at digitising patient records and improving planning and accountability.

Friday said the government remains focused on prevention, early detection and improved service delivery as it works to strengthen the healthcare system.

“Prevention, early detection, and timely care remain the most cost-effective investments we can make,” he said.