Sir Dr Winston C.V. Parris has expressed optimism about the future of healthcare delivery in Saint Lucia following a comprehensive tour of the Dr. Winston C.V. Parris Medical Complex, describing the facility as one that could become “a model facility for Caribbean medicine” within the next decade.
The visit, organized by officials from the Corporate Planning Unit within the Ministry of Health, Wellness and Nutrition, provided Sir Dr Parris with an overview of the complex’s current operations, ongoing construction works, and long-term development plans.
Quality Assurance Officer in the Ministry of Health, Len Leonce, explained that the tour covered several operational and developing sections of the facility.
“Today we went through the old emergency section, our current Betty Wells section where we provide services today, the National Eye Clinic, the Secondary Care Unit and the SRH Clinic,” Leonce stated.
“So various parts of the complex, some operational as we speak, some under construction and some with architectural drawings with planned construction coming in the next couple of months.”
Leonce noted that the visit also offered an opportunity for Sir Dr Parris to share historical insight into the facility’s earlier years, having last visited the institution more than five decades ago.
“It was a good visit, he was able to provide some historical insight into his previous employment, he last visited the facility in 1975,” he said.
“So, he contained a wealth of knowledge, and he was able to inform our technical team who conducted the tour of various facets of paint a picture of how the facility operated in 1975.”
Reflecting on the tour, Sir Dr Parris commended the strategic planning behind the facility’s development and highlighted its potential role in easing pressure on the Owen King EU Hospital.
“My hope, already some of those aspirations are taking place,” Sir Dr Parris said. “You don’t want to overload the OKU hospital, and this facility seems to offer that solution. The overflow patients you can accommodate.”
He also pointed to preparations being made for future public health emergencies, including pandemic response capabilities.
“I see you have plans for in the event there’s a catastrophe like COVID or what you call mass isolation, you have taken that,” he remarked.
“So, to me there’s a lot of planning that has gone in. Some of them haven’t been implemented but these things take time and money, but I think the direction is positive.”
Sir Dr Parris added that he believes the facility could become a leading healthcare institution in the region over the coming years.
“I think I could see in the next 10 years, 15 years, this would be a model facility for Caribbean medicine,” he declared.
The retired physician also praised the healthcare professionals serving at the institution, describing their work as commendable.
“We have very competent people here, local, and foreign physicians and nurses who are here. We should be proud of them. They are doing an incredible job,” he said.
Drawing on his international experience, Sir Dr Parris said Saint Lucia’s healthcare sector compares favorably with institutions abroad.
“I have practiced in many countries around the world, and I have been to a lot of countries around the world in my capacity as President of the World Society of Pain Physicians,” he noted.
“I can tell you we can be proud of what we have here.”