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The Antigua and Barbuda government has announced plans to boost nurse retention and recruitment in response to ongoing healthcare shortages, including an incentive programme aimed at encouraging more locals to enter the profession.
During the Post-Cabinet Media Briefing, Chief of Staff Ambassador Lionel Hurst confirmed that the government is expanding financial incentives to address the shortage of nurses in the country.
“We want to ensure that Antigua and Barbuda can train, retain, and expand its healthcare workforce, reducing the need for foreign recruitment,” Hurst stated.
The government’s plan includes:
Higher salaries to make nursing more financially attractive.
Scholarships and training grants for local students pursuing nursing degrees.
- Opportunities for career progression, including pathways to specialization and leadership roles.
Officials believe that better pay and career stability will encourage more Antiguans and Barbudans to join the healthcare sector while also reducing reliance on foreign medical personnel.
While increased salaries are expected to attract new entrants to the profession, some healthcare experts warn that workplace conditions and professional development opportunities must also be addressed.
“Nursing is not just about salaries—it’s about having the right support systems, manageable workloads, and career growth opportunities,” said one senior hospital administrator.
Additionally, nurses leaving for better-paying jobs abroad remains a challenge, with regional and international markets often offering more competitive wages and benefits.
The government has signaled its commitment to long-term workforce planning, with an emphasis on training local talent. There are also discussions on whether Antigua and Barbuda could become a regional hub for nursing education, exporting trained professionals *similar to the Cuban model.
With the healthcare sector under strain, the government hopes that these new incentives will help build a stable and sustainable nursing workforce, ensuring quality care for Antiguans and Barbudans in the years to come.
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I hope you can look into the Private security sectors as well, because i believe a lot more Antiguans and Barbudans would make up security jobs, once they will get a better pay rate,than the government minimum wage…
security work is for foreigners. Antiguans deserve better than the measly wages for a risky job
They need to stop giving people such a hard time to get in so there won’t be a shortage🙄
Better salary is not the only issue management, the high stress level workers and working with.no or poor quality equipment, the disrespect of patients and their family members no health benefit for staff. No long-term benefit, for example, retirement plan. These are just a drop in the bucket of the reasons why nurses are leaving. The matron and her deputy need to replace with someone with a heart for the nurses’ who show care and compassion not just for who they favored but for all and not holding back promotions from hard working comment and quality staff and stop implementing laws,rules and regulations to stress the nurses especially when they stand-up for their rights.
All them good nurse travelling… The place dont have nothing
Does this mean better pay?
Why do they always wait for a crisis to act on something ?
The demand for nurses not just in Antigua and Barbuda but all over the world is astronomical. Small countries such as Antigua and Barbuda have an opportunity to cash in and capitalize on thus demand. I know that we already have a fairly good nursing program here but we need to expand the program such that we can put out a minimum of 600 nurses annually. They would all get placement whether it is locally or in the US, Canada or the UK as they are forever seeking nurses. We have to have more programs and incentives to encourage more of our citizens to get involved in the nursing program.
@audley
its all talk, they want the new director to think that they care.
They dont. Their children are seen at joey’s