The British Virgin Islands Health Services Authority has entered into an agreement with the Cuban Health Authority in the interests of extending the deployment of health professionals to the territory to supplement the understaffed health care sector.
That is according to Minister for Health and Social Development Honourable Marlon Penn who made the revelation before the House of Assembly.
“The following steps are being undertaken by the BVI Health Services Authority to help address staffing shortages. The BVIHSA has entered into an agreement with the Cuban Health Authority for the extended deployment of a limited number of physicians, specialists and nursing staff for the next year. New markets for nurse recruitment are actively being explored including Ghana and the Philippines as nursing shortages are the most pressing concern at this time”, he said.
As he reflected on the situation at hand, Penn lamented that the already challenging task of keeping the health sector well staffed has become an even more daunting task following the COVID 19 Pandemic.
“Securing adequate technical and professional staffing for the BVI Health Services Authority continues to present a challenge as we compete with the rest of the world to not only recruit but also to retain well trained and motivated staff. Several countries have resorted to offering significant inducement including increases in compensation and benefits, and immigration incentives in order to recruit from the market that has shrunk considerably since the onset of the COVID 19 Pandemic”, he said.
In addition to the challenge of recruiting new staff, the issue of retaining skilled workers is also of great concern. To this end, Penn says that retention strategies are being considered.
“Retention initiatives are being reviewed by the BVIHSA’s Board for all clinical and allied health staff to ensure that trained staff can be retained while operating within the budget limits… Staff training arrangements are being expanded in collaboration with HLSCC to provide ongoing professional development opportunities”, he said.