Business View Caribbean - Mar 2024

towards chronic conditions that require long-term strategies, management, and care. Mental health is another area of significant concern, amplified in the post-COVID era.“Mental health issues among our children, adolescents, and the elderly are growing concerns that we are actively addressing,”Dr. Samuel shares, highlighting the diverse demographic impact of mental health challenges. Regarding the depth of services for conditions extending beyond primary care, Dr. Samuel provides an insightful overview of the current capabilities and gaps. “We offer a range of specialist services, including psychiatry, psychology, and mental health therapies. However, we acknowledge a significant gap in substance abuse intervention services,” she admits. Addressing the issue of specialist care for chronic conditions like diabetes and the necessity for advanced treatments like dialysis, Dr. Samuel profiles the BVIHSA’s approach. “We offer a good spectrum of primary care and first-tier secondary services. For tertiary care, we rely on collaborations through our national health insurance system,” she explains.“This strategy of leveraging partnerships for advanced care, especially for subspecialty services like cardiology and oncology, offers a pragmatic approach to overcoming resource limitations.” STRATEGIC EVOLUTION IN HEALTHCARE PROVISION The British Virgin Islands Health Services Authority is embarking on a transformative journey underpinned by strategic upgrades and expansions across its network of clinics. Dr. Samuel elucidates on the multifaceted approach to enhance the physical infrastructure and augment the quality and accessibility of healthcare services. This vision encompasses a broad spectrum of initiatives, from facility enhancements to comprehensive community health assessments, all aimed at fortifying the healthcare landscape of the BVI. “We’re in the process of enhancing our healthcare provision, starting with the completion of an expanded polyclinic in Virgin Gorda and several clinic spaces on Tortola,” she begins, outlining 64 BUSINESS VIEW CARIBBEAN VOLUME 11, ISSUE 03