Our proposed Health System Reform is an urgent requirement not as an end in itself but because the stress on the St Lucia Health System, while still under control, has been building to such an extent that meltdown will occur unless redesign, reform, re-organization is the chosen path of this Ministry. I would like to put this another way for the benefit of all of us here particularly the major stakeholders in the Health System. Health Sector Reform in the St. Lucian context is not a stand-alone proposition. The health system does not stand on this side of the room with health sector reform on the other side. The path of the St Lucia Health Sector in the future goes directly through Health Sector Reform and becomes one, and for the simple reason that the stress of inefficiencies on the system, will gradually cause the meltdown of our institutions and system over time.
Reform is therefore the prerequisite for a sustainable health system over time.
This smokescreen, this facade being the sole concentration and focus of the previous political managers. The organization of accident and emergency services, especially the slow pace of service delivery and delays in attending to some urgent cases. This institution is of particular concern to me. It is of concern not only because of the inadequacies of the system but also because of the frustration that must be felt by the dedicated staff who day in and day out have to care in almost total obscurity for the most unfortunate of our society. The level of staffing is grossly inadequate for anything but purely custodial care.