Health
National Health Sector Strategic Plan Consultation Exercise Commences in TCI
#TurksandCaicos, October 26, 2021 – The Ministry of Health and Human Services along with its wider stakeholders on Monday, October 18, commenced a 3-day consultation and think tank exercise aimed at formulating a 4-year National Strategic Health Plan for the Turks and Caicos Islands.
This plan is expected to ensure that all residents have access to sustainable, comprehensive, high quality and affordable health services and programmes.
TCI Minister of Health and Human Services, the Honourable Jamell Robinson in his welcome remarks, commenced with thanks to the assembled team for both their presence and support in what he described as a multisector initiative targeted at developing a national health sector strategic plan.
Hon Robinson said, “I look forward to seeing this type of support continue throughout the entire process as we focus on achieving one common goal. If we are to succeed, it will be together, as a network of partners recognizing that each sector of society has a role to play in influencing population health.”
Hon. Robinson went on to state his and his government’s commitment to the attainment of the sustainable development goals and universal health care through collaboration, a resetting of health strategies and programming which will undoubtedly strengthen our health system. The Health Minister said, “The next four years will offer us significant challenges, but there has never been a greater opportunity to improve the health and wellbeing of the TCI residents than now. There must be that renewed commitment to tackle the wider determinants of health by adopting the Health in All Policies (HiAPs) approach across all sectors. We have the opportunity to make improving the
public’s health a top priority by strengthening the collaborative approach between stakeholders to better use resources and information in order to build a more resilient health system.”
Also addressing the group comprising Ministry of Health personnel, wider government partners, stakeholders, NGO’s and private health care facilities was Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health and Human Services, Mrs. Desiree Lewis. Mrs. Lewis said that her aim is to see the production of a continuously edited and updated dynamic paper, which she referred to as a living document. She also commented, “It is my desire to have a living document that provides a strategic roadmap for HealthCare services within the Turks and Caicos that incorporates lessons learned particularly from Public Health diseases such as COVID-19. As a country, we have to continue to think outside the box and utilize modern technologies in HealthCare.”
TCI’s strategic planning exercise is being supported by its key regional partner the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) Bahamas and Turks and Caicos Office. The PAHO/WHO representative (PWR) Dr. Eldonna Boisson commented on the exercise stating, “The National Turks and Caicos Islands Strategic Plan for Health is essential to give direction to all health-related work, that of the health sector, as well as that of other sectors and partners. This COVID-19 pandemic has taught us the importance of partnership and a whole of government approach to tackling health and health-related issues. This plan will specify the public health results to be achieved during the period of the plan, The plan will also define concrete health outputs and outcomes, keeping in mind national, regional and global commitments, that will directly measure the health sector’s progress in delivering quality healthcare to the people of Turks and Caicos Islands. The Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) is pleased to be collaborating with the Ministry and partners on the development of this new national strategic plan.”
Hon. Robinson recognised the many past accomplishments made in the health sector which he attributed to the shaping of government’s primary objectives as well as the health sector. Minister of Health Robinson in closing said, “This plan once finalised must align with the overall strategic direction of the government and respond to the challenges facing our health and community service systems and our residents. Our health system is extremely important and must realise the health development of the individual, the family and the society throughout our beloved Turks and Caicos Islands.”
The Ministry wishes to thank all of the participants for their commitment and support in this exercise as well as PAHO for their ongoing support and guidance.
Deandrea Hamilton | Editor
Turks and Caicos, September 6, 2025 – COVID-19 fears in the Turks and Caicos Islands that once had residents on edge are now giving way to a sense of relief. The Ministry of Health and Human Services reports a dramatic reversal: from dozens of new cases in July to zero cases and zero hospitalizations today.
Between August 17 and 23, 2025, officials confirmed no new cases, no hospitalizations, and no new deaths. Just two recoveries were recorded, bringing the national recovery tally to 6,866. The total confirmed cases since 2020 stand at 6,922, with deaths unchanged at 41. Health officials say August has been relatively quiet overall, with 19 new cases and recoveries recorded for the month — a fraction of what the islands faced just weeks earlier.
The contrast could not be sharper. The most concerning bulletin came in mid-July, when the Ministry reported 54 new cases in a single
week. Ten were fresh positives, while the other 44 came from a backlog of April samples. At that time, two new hospitalizations were recorded, and the islands mourned one additional COVID-related death, bringing the total to 41. It was a sobering reminder that the virus was still circulating, pushing recoveries to 6,845 and raising the cumulative case count to 6,910. The July spike stirred fear among residents and renewed calls for vigilance, as community spread and delayed lab results painted a worrying picture.
Fast forward to late August, and the numbers tell a very different story. Not only are new cases negligible, but the hospitals are reporting no COVID-19 patients at all. Officials say testing continues across a wide range of categories, and the Ministry urges the public to stay cautious: wash hands, wear masks in crowded spaces, protect the vulnerable, and get vaccinated. But the tone now is one of optimism.
Since the pandemic began in 2020, Turks and Caicos has recorded nearly 7,000 cases in total, with 6,866 recoveries and 41 deaths. The islands’ small population means every case has felt significant, and surges like July’s were especially unsettling. But today’s figures suggest the country has reached a new stage: COVID-19 is no longer the disruptive force it was. The Ministry credits continued public vigilance and the accessibility of free testing and vaccines at government clinics. While the numbers are cause for celebration, health leaders are careful not to declare the fight over. The Ministry’s latest bulletin reminds residents to maintain hygienic practices, follow self-isolation guidelines if infected, and ensure vaccinations are up to date.
The pandemic may not be entirely behind the Turks and Caicos, but compared to the frightening figures of July, the near-zero landscape of August offers a powerful sign of hope.
The Ministry released the bulletin on September 2, confirming that for the week of August 17–23, no new cases, hospitalizations, or deaths were recorded — a sharp contrast to the surge just weeks earlier.
Health
Turks and Caicos Islands Health Delegation Completes Strategic Visits to Florida and Cayman Islands to Advance Health Sector Reform and Strengthen Treatment Abroad Programme
Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands, 22 August 2025 — A high-level delegation from the Ministry of Health and Human Services (MOHHS) has successfully concluded strategic working visits to Florida and the Cayman Islands from August 5–13, 2025. The mission aimed to strengthen the Treatment Abroad Programme, explore innovative health system models, and advance the Turks and Caicos Islands’ health sector reform agenda through strategic regional partnerships.
Delegation Members:
- Hon. Kyle Knowles – Minister of Health and Human Services
MoHHS Team with Health City Executive Management Team
- Mrs. Desiree Lewis – Permanent Secretary, Health and Human Services
- Mr. Lynrod Brooks – Director, Health Policy and Planning
- Ms. Florinda Talbot – Contract Performance Manager
- Mrs. Romaine Missick-Smith – CEO, Health Regulations Authority
- Ms. Jasmine Malcolm – Executive Administrator, MOHHS
Minister of Health and Human Services, Hon. Kyle Knowles, highlighted the significance of these engagements:
“These visits were not ceremonial; they were strategic, focused, and impactful. In Florida, we reinforced partnerships with leading healthcare providers to ensure TCI patients referred overseas receive the highest standards of clinical care and patient support. In the Cayman Islands, our mission was two-fold: to study the operations of the Cayman Islands Health Services Authority as a model to guide the establishment of our own Health Services Authority, and to strengthen ties with Cayman-based treatment partners, where many of our patients are referred under the Treatment Abroad Programme. Both visits underscored that small island states share many health challenges, and that collaboration, innovation, and adapting best practices to our local context are essential to achieving better health outcomes for our people.”
Florida – Strengthening the Treatment Abroad Programme
MoHHS Team with Cayman Minsterial officials
During the period August 5–9, the delegation visited Broward Medical Center, University of Miami Health System, Cleveland Clinic, Nicklaus Children’s Hospital, and the International Reinsurance Managers Network. They also toured REVA Air Ambulance Services to review medical evacuation operations and patient transfer management. Discussions centered on patient care pathways, specialized services in ophthalmology, cardiology, oncology, and pediatrics, family-centered care models, advanced telemedicine for pre- and post-treatment consultations, and reinsurance strategies for high-cost overseas cases. Key outcomes include agreements to expand telehealth consultations, develop a standardized referral package to reduce delays, explore reinsurance arrangements to safeguard public health budgets, and establish specialized pediatric transfer protocols.
Cayman Islands – Health Sector Reform and Treatment Abroad Partnerships
From August 10–13, the delegation engaged with senior executives at Health City Cayman Islands, including Dr. Binoy Chattuparambil (Clinical Director), Shomari Scott (Chief Business Development Officer), Rebecca Brooks (Head of Marketing and Sales), and Ingrid Harris (Sales and Marketing). The team toured two hospital facilities and held in-depth discussions with Lizzette Yearwood, Chief Executive Officer along with leadership staff of the Cayman Islands Health Services Authority
The focus was two-fold:
- Health Sector Reform – Examining governance, financial management, and operational structures of the Cayman Islands HSA model
MoHHS Team with CEO and senior official Cayman HSA
to inform TCI’s development of its own Health Services Authority.
- Treatment Abroad Strengthening – Reviewing current referral arrangements with Cayman healthcare partners to enhance patient care coordination and improve treatment pathways for TCI patients referred to Cayman.
The delegation also met with Honourable Katherine Ebanks-Wilks, Minister for Health, Environment, Sustainability, and Honourable G. Wayne Panton, Parliamentary Secretary for Health. The team concluded with a meeting with Acting Premier Hon. Gary B. Rutty and Cabinet members, reaffirming the shared commitment to improving healthcare access and outcomes through regional collaboration.
Next Steps
The Ministry will incorporate lessons learned from these visits into ongoing health reform planning, ensuring that the proposed Health Services Authority is tailored to TCI’s needs while reflecting regional best practices. Efforts will continue to ensure that the Treatment Abroad Programme delivers efficient, sustainable, and patient-centered care.
