Newly appointed Minister within the Ministry of Health, Wellness, Environment, and Civil Service Affairs, the Honourable Michael Joseph, officially commenced his ministerial duties today following his appointment on May 5, 2026, and attendance at his first Cabinet Meeting on May 6, 2026.
The Minister began the day with a strategic meeting alongside Permanent Secretary, Stacey Gregg-Paige, during which priority matters relating to the nation’s healthcare system and public health services were discussed.
As part of his first official engagement, Minister Joseph visited the Sir Lester Bird Medical Centre where he met with Director, Dr. Shivon Belle-Jarvis, and members of the hospital’s leadership team.
Discussions focused on the current needs of the institution, ongoing operational challenges, infrastructure development, administrative support systems, staffing needs, and strategies aimed at strengthening healthcare delivery across the facility.
The Minister also toured key areas of the hospital, with particular focus placed on the Emergency Room Department, including the triage area. During the tour, he received updates on patient flow processes, emergency response procedures, and the systems currently in place to support patient care.
Minister Joseph also observed the software platform utilized by the institution to manage patient intake and monitoring. The system assists healthcare professionals in documenting patient arrivals, assessing medical needs, tracking treatment progress, facilitating ward placement, and coordinating discharge procedures.
Throughout the visit, the Minister engaged with healthcare workers and administrative personnel, commending staff for their continued dedication and service to the people of Antigua and Barbuda.
Minister Joseph emphasized the importance of collaboration, innovation, and efficient healthcare systems in ensuring quality patient care and reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to supporting the continued advancement of the nation’s primary healthcare institution.
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Very well. I find the services offered by the hospital much improved. However, we need to try and shorten waiting time. I know there is a fast track system but we still need to do better with the patients that are none fast tracks. Next is the lack of space inside the casualty area when attended to – talking about the area where ER patients are treated. Again the doctors, nurses, cleaners, security are all doing a good job. However, not sufficient beds . Sir people sit there in those hard chairs for days getting emergency treatment and if admitted sit there for as much as a day waiting for a bed to become available on the ward. Something it looks like a refugee camp , over crowded.
The staff seems in good spirits, they need the medication more readily available. From time to time you her the doctors or nurses asking patients if they can get certain medication because they don’t have any.
Well on the wards the beds are not good. Again visiting my relative the bed was awful. She wanted to go home just because of how hard and uncomfortable the bed was. Again he complemented the treatment by the doctors, nurses, the foods , cleaners , the entire hospital staff.
The next are is the maintenance of the equipment, there are windows , doors unhinged. Too many rooms are not usable including restrooms. There is one outside the ER across the passage way , with the toilet on the floor. The maintenance staff needs to get better support. I am not sure either if they are doing their best. However I see stuff that with a little effort can be fixed.
All the best Honorable Minister. Youth brings new energy. PM – “Don’t try and keep the youth in your old wind skin.”
He should now end molwyn’s malice against Mr shack and call him back on contractual assignment to fix the machines broken down at the hospital, if other Caribbean hospital could be calling him why should we Antiguans waste our best human resources.
I hope he is up to the job! Our health care system is extremely important to our well being and so I hope MJ is up to the task.
@fix it: unfortunately he or any ALP minister placed in any ministry cannot create miracles, the reckless person in charge of finance that will allocate the funds to run the hospital or any other ministry will make it futile to accomplish anything when the monies will be directed at high paid salaries for Ron saunders and other people who brings psychological comfort to Gaston ego including high paid lawyer in the USA fighting a case that should have never occur.
It doesn’t matter all the figures romantically spouted or falsely claim to be allocated, in practicality it never happens, if it had been done they could have ask a financial organization to record that fund and it’s disbursement.
Hit the ground running
Starting with the hospital send a strong message about priorities.
Hope he continue listening to frontline workers and patients.
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