Antigua and Barbuda’s Cancer Centre is expected to reopen within the first quarter of 2026, Health Minister Sir Molwyn Joseph told Parliament, as he outlined plans to strengthen local cancer treatment services during the 2026 Budget Debate.
Sir Molwyn Joseph, Member of Parliament for St. Mary’s North, said the reopening of the facility will mark a major step toward reducing the country’s reliance on overseas medical treatment, particularly for cancer patients.
He told the House that the centre will be equipped with modern, up-to-date technology designed to provide advanced cancer care locally. “We anticipate the Cancer Centre reopening within the first quarter of 2026,” the minister said, adding that the facility will have “the most modern equipment” to deliver contemporary treatment LOWER HOUSE SITTING – 2026 BUDG….
The health minister said government spending on overseas medical treatment has risen steadily in recent years, largely driven by cancer-related cases. He noted that in 2021, the government spent about $3.4 million sending patients abroad for treatment, increasing to $4.3 million in 2022, $5.3 million in 2023, and approximately $6.6 million so far in 2025.
He said reopening the Cancer Centre will help ease that burden by allowing more patients to receive treatment locally, while acknowledging that overseas medical assistance will still be required in some cases.
Sir Molwyn placed the reopening within the wider health-sector strategy under the 2026 budget, which he said seeks to balance immediate patient needs with long-term investment in healthcare infrastructure.
The minister also linked the Cancer Centre’s return to broader public health goals, including expanded screening and early intervention programmes aimed at reducing the incidence of advanced cancer cases.
He told MPs that strengthening local cancer services is essential to improving health outcomes and ensuring that patients are not forced to seek care abroad due to gaps in domestic capacity.
The Cancer Centre’s reopening is expected to form part of a wider package of health-sector initiatives rolling out in 2026, as the government continues efforts to modernise healthcare delivery and reduce long-term treatment costs
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The upp build it from scratch through partnership but ALP head is bursting to just getting it functional. That is real incompetence and lack of care for the country.