Seven polyclinics to be refurbished, two rebuilt

Seven of Barbados’ nine polyclinics are earmarked for extensive refurbishment, while the remaining two are to be completely rebuilt.

This announcement came from Minister of State in the Ministry of Health and Wellness, Davidson Ishmael, during his contribution to a parliamentary debate on a resolution to lease lands at Coverley Great House in Christ Church. The land is to be used by the Barbados Association of Cancer Advocacy (BACA) for the construction of a modern 14-bed palliative care facility for patients with terminal illnesses, such as cancer.

Ishmael, Member of Parliament for St Michael North, emphasised that the ministry’s focus is on strengthening the primary healthcare system, and the redevelopment of the polyclinic network is a central component of that strategy. The aim is to expand healthcare services across communities and improve access to care.

“Our polyclinics already offer most of the services you would find at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital,” he said. “All nine of them are equipped to provide a wide range of medical care.”

While no cost estimate for the overhaul was provided during the debate, Minister Ishmael explained that all nine polyclinics are being restructured to make them more purpose-built and suited to the needs of a modern population.

“Seven out of the nine polyclinics will undergo full renovations, and we are rebuilding two from the ground up,” he stated. “These full rebuilds are necessary because, as they currently stand, they are simply not meeting the needs of the communities they serve. We must ensure that we get it right as we move forward.”

Ishmael also highlighted the increasing strain on the island’s healthcare system caused by the high prevalence of non-communicable diseases (NCDs). He revealed that eight out of ten deaths in Barbados are linked to diabetes, hypertension, chronic respiratory illnesses, and cancer—the four leading NCDs in the country.

“Whenever we talk about NCDs, I have to stress that these are largely preventable diseases,” he said, pointing out that the ongoing management of NCDs has placed a major financial burden on the country. Ishmael cited approximately $145 million in productivity losses annually due to these illnesses.

“As a small island developing state, we can ill afford to lose even a single dollar in productivity per year,” he warned.

The minister also pointed to deeply rooted cultural, social, and economic factors that contribute to poor health outcomes. “We enjoy certain foods and preparation methods that are not the healthiest. But it’s how we’ve always done it. These are cultural norms that we must confront. They are among the social and economic determinants of ill health.” (IMC1)