Healthcare one of our biggest priorities — Premier

Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley said healthcare is one of his government’s most significant priorities despite the challenges plaguing his administration.

His remarks come amid mounting concerns over healthcare services in the territory and accusations of wasteful government spending on a Vybz Kartel concert. In an interview with Cathy Richards on JTV, Premier Wheatley commented on an emotional community meeting in Virgin Gorda following a tragic incident where a resident could not access the Nurse Iris O’Neal Clinic. Dr Wheatley acknowledged the frustration expressed by residents about the lack of healthcare facilities and emergency services, particularly in Virgin Gorda, Anegada, and Jost Van Dyke. He confirmed that his administration is dedicated to addressing these concerns.

“We take the health of the citizens of the territory very seriously. It’s one of our biggest priorities in government,” Premier Wheatley stressed. Premier Wheatley highlighted that while healthcare is a global challenge, the local system faces its own problems, including a high incidence of non-communicable diseases and inadequate funding for public health institutions. He explained that although commendable efforts were made to introduce a National Health Insurance (NHI) system, it has not been enough to address the growing demands of the public health sector.