Dr Philmore Benjamin Appointed Consultant to Strengthen Primary Healthcare Services
Dr Philmore Benjamin, a former long-standing member of the United Progressive Party (UPP), has been appointed as a consultant to Antigua and Barbuda’s community clinics in a move aimed at strengthening primary healthcare across the island.
The Cabinet approved the appointment during its weekly meeting, with Director General of Communications in the Prime Minister’s Office, Maurice Merchant, outlining Dr Benjamin’s remit.
“Dr Benjamin’s role is going to be to ascertain where there is the need for improvement in the delivery of healthcare at the clinics, and how clinics can diversify their offerings to better serve the communities where they are located,” Merchant said during a post-Cabinet press briefing.
According to the Cabinet notes, primary healthcare must be community-centred, accessible, and affordable, with a focus on wellness, prevention, and treatment of common illnesses. Strengthening this sector is viewed as a critical step toward achieving health equity and universal coverage.
Dr Benjamin, who recently parted ways with the UPP, brings more than three decades of experience in family medicine. He is widely regarded for his contributions in preventive care, chronic disease management, and geriatric medicine, and is known for fostering long-term patient relationships.
His academic background spans several disciplines. He qualified as a chemist and druggist in 1979 before earning a pharmacy degree from the University of Technology in Kingston, Jamaica. He later received a medical scholarship to study at the Superior Institute of Medical Sciences in Cuba.
Dr Benjamin also holds qualifications in sports medicine, having trained in Puerto Rico, Hungary, and Jamaica. He completed his Master’s Degree in Sports Medicine and Exercise Science at the University of the West Indies Mona Campus in 2010.
Raised with a strong sense of public service, Dr Benjamin’s latest appointment marks a continuation of his longstanding commitment to community health and development.
Advertise with the mоѕt vіѕіtеd nеwѕ ѕіtе іn Antigua!
We offer fully customizable and flexible digital marketing packages.
Contact us at [email protected]
Why not sports, why clinics?
Private practice is so different to public practice so I find this appointment laughable.
Bring them in….bring them in…bring them. In from the shields of sin…bring them in….bring them in…bring all the UPP folks back to ALP.
All shall eat…….
The stone the builder rejected shall become the head corner stone………
What the cat doesn’t want the dog wants very much……..
Experienced leadership in healthcare is crucial, welcome, Dr. Benjamin.
Dr. Benjamin’s appointment is a positive step towards improving health equity in Antigua and Barbuda. The emphasis on community clinics, accessible primary care, and prevention reflects an understanding that health outcomes are shaped long before hospital visits. His broad expertise and international experience will help tailor healthcare delivery to the specific needs of each community. If implemented well, this can reduce the burden on hospitals and improve the quality of life for many citizens. I look forward to seeing how his work will translate into better health services on the ground. Congratulations Doc
it seems as if it’s all upp former members in charge of the daily runnings of the alp machine
Let’s hope that good Doc will see it fit to bring onboard at the clinics, our young medical graduates who are presently out in the wilderness & can’t jobs in the health care sector.
Still waiting for the announcement for him to.be the candidate for St Mary’s North….
Lets hope we see a change. Lets hope he makes a difference. Because all I’m seeing is, people get appointed to their positions, everyone pop’s up and congratulate them, their pockets get fatter yet everything remains the same. The people of power don’t realize how much some people are struggling because they are up there with more than enough to do as they please. St John’s still stinks, homeless and mentally challenged people everywhere with no assistance. No one coming up with the idea to build a well organized facility to accommodate these vulnerable people. Make sure they have a place to lay their heads, a hot meal and somewhere they can take a shower. Life and circumstances can happen to anyone. Think about building somewhere to assist them.
@ british bloke
The money to pay them must come from somewhere, are you willing to pay to see a doctor at the clinics?
All the UPP rejects getting their box hand, Benjamin, Tabor. I guess Mansour getting his next.
@Cool Ruler it would have better to say some of the smart people who left and rejected the UPP and not that they are UPP rejects. UPP did not reject them, they rejected the UPP.
well said. THEY rejected UPP!
No longer would they subject themselves to a bellicose Man Cow LIPSTICK HAG
I couldn’t believe the good doctor left upp to join ablp cause the Cabinet notes one time say he is the doctor that gives people sick leave whether they sick or not and according to social security policies that practice is unethical. All of them unethical now then.
Hello Benjy
Good luck.
Just remember, this is not UPP now, you know.
You are now dealing with Gaston Browne. He will not allow you to take the job and not do it. You know? Like in UPP when you take a big position in the executive and did not function, or when you got mad because things were not going your way so you just blank out everybody.
No, no, no. Gaston will not allow you those liberties like Harold and Baldwin. Like they did fraid to talk to you. Try that with Gaston and you will be out faster than you can say Dean Jonas, and he would go on his radio station and make you f*rt.
So, look like you would have to do the people work with your tongue between your teeth and you would have to show up for work.
All the best, Benjy
This ‘new position’s remit appears to be surely a repetition of what leaders and teams in clinics already know, have possibly been asking for, and not been heard or received budget to enact.
The ‘job’ appears to be a research, budget & recommendations position.
We have bright, young, keen, engaged, modern health professionals and students who would surely welcome the opportunity to work at a more visionary level and influence community health & well-being.
Let’s look forward, let’s genuinely give people under 35, opportunities with meaning, weight, authority and influence for community growth, cohesion and tangible benefit to the community.