Health Minister Sir Molwyn Joseph says Antigua and Barbuda now has the largest team of psychiatrists in its history as the government works to modernise mental health services.
Speaking at a recent press conference, Joseph said the country previously had only one psychiatrist at Clarevue Psychiatric Hospital, but now has three, with a fourth expected to join by December.
“This is the first time we’ve ever had three psychiatrists in Antigua,” he said, adding that a new recruit has already accepted an offer and will join the service soon.
Joseph explained that the expansion of mental health staffing is part of a broader reform programme to improve both the physical facilities and professional capacity of the psychiatric system. The government, he said, is also consulting with the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) to determine the appropriate mix of trained specialists needed for the population.
The Health Minister added that additional medical officers are being sought to support patient care, noting that physical health must remain a key part of treatment even for those receiving psychiatric care.
The government is also moving forward with plans to relocate and rebuild the Clarevue Psychiatric Hospital on a new $13 million property, which will serve as a modern mental health campus designed to replace the outdated facility built nearly a century ago.
