In a recent press conference held on Wednesday May 26th, 2021. Leader of Government Business Hon. Andrew A Fahie divulged that as many as three medical schools are expected to be established in the near future in the territory of the Virgin Islands.
“We see that if we can safely have about three medical schools at the most operating in the BVI at one time – not in the same disciplines, but in other areas – because, remember you have different types of medicine that you can have, fields of medicine that you can study in,” Premier Fahie said.
The schools are anticipated to have physical offices in the BVI and will each be covering a different medical discipline, complementing each other in the educational services being offered and not competing with the state owned H. Lavity Stoutt Community College. These institutions once receiving approval are expected to begin operations in the BVI by the end of 2021.
Fahie said, “We will have professionals that are on the ground now that are teaching at those medical schools that will be able to complement our medical professionals here.”
Premier Fahie noted that the process for the medical institutions have already begun and he is seeking to ensure affordable rates for locals in order to be trained within the medical field in a variety of medical disciplines.
When asked by our agency on whether or not there will be a cap on the number of medical schools in the territory based on the small size of the BVI territory, Fahie opted not to say.
The Premier also eluded that the BVI is a hot commodity in this area stating that there are other medical schools “knocking at our door” that are also going through the process.
All details about the medical schools are expected to be comprehensively presented to the public by the end of June, allowing he said for significant economic growth in areas such as medical tourism, emphasizing that the expected revenue surplus garnered will be huge.
“We want to let persons know that the more of the medical schools that operate from here, we have to make sure that we understand the more apartments will be rented, more rental cars would be rented, or even purchase of cars, grocery stores – the economic spinoff is huge,” Premier Fahie said.
Fahie is confident that the professionals coming will be trained in areas where the BVI could use some help and may even be able to help “on the ground” to assist in cases of emergencies and training sessions at the state owned Dr D Orlando Smith Hospital.