SLMDA Calls For Patient Safety, Healthcare Equity And Fair Treatment Of Frontline Workers

As Saint Lucia grapples with emerging public health concerns, workforce challenges and growing demand for accessible healthcare, the Saint Lucia Medical and Dental Association (SLMDA) is urging policymakers and stakeholders to place patient safety, healthcare equity and frontline workers at the center of national decision-making.

Addressing several issues currently impacting the health sector, SLMDA President Dr. Merle Clarke outlined the association’s position on antivenom administration following recent snakebite concerns, called for outstanding payments owed to district medical officers, and highlighted what she described as inefficiencies affecting the delivery of Universal Health Care services.

Dr. Clarke’s comments come amid heightened public concern over snake encounters following the recent snakebite of a three-year-old child in Millet and several reported sightings across the island. While acknowledging public calls for antivenom to be made available at community wellness centres located closer to areas where snakes are frequently seen, she said the association does not support that approach.

According to Dr. Clarke, antivenom carries significant risks, including severe allergic reactions that can lead to cardiac arrest, making it essential that the medication be administered in facilities equipped with emergency support services.

“There are guidelines for the administration of antivenom and all medications,” she explained. “One of the major side effects is possible anaphylaxis, which could lead to cardiac arrest. For that reason, you need support services and intensive care capabilities close at hand.”

She noted that while antivenom is most effective when administered within four to six hours of a bite, ideally within three hours, no location in Saint Lucia is more than three hours away from major hospitals capable of providing the necessary care.

The SLMDA President said patient safety must remain the primary consideration when determining where treatment is administered, comparing antivenom to clot-busting medications used in heart attack cases, which are also only given in facilities with advanced medical support due to the risks involved.

Beyond the issue of snakebite treatment, Dr. Clarke renewed the association’s call for long-promised honorarium payments to 16 district medical officers who remain unpaid despite a Cabinet decision taken in October 2025.

While welcoming Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre’s recent apology regarding the delay, Dr. Clarke said the doctors have every right to feel disappointed, particularly given the critical role they continue to play within the healthcare system.

“We disagree fundamentally with any suggestion that this should be viewed as a favour,” she said. “These doctors performed the same functions as everyone else and the healthcare system could not function without them.”

Dr. Clarke stressed that the issue extends beyond the financial value of the payments and speaks to the principle of fairness and recognition for healthcare workers who continue to serve communities across the island.

She argued that while the Prime Minister had approved the payments, the failure to implement the decision nearly eight months later highlights inefficiencies within the public service.

The association also expressed strong support for the government’s Universal Health Care (UHC) initiative but warned that gaps remain in how services are accessed and delivered.

Dr. Clarke said patients who choose to seek care from private physicians often encounter barriers when attempting to access services and benefits that fall under the UHC framework, including screening programmes and medications available through the public healthcare system.

She pointed to situations where patients must first visit a public healthcare facility to obtain approval for services such as mammograms, even after being assessed by a private physician.

“We believe this is inefficient,” Dr. Clarke said. “Universal healthcare should be universal. Whether a patient sees a physician privately or publicly, they should be entitled to access services that fall under the UHC umbrella.”

The SLMDA President also raised concerns about patients being unable to access certain medications through the public system when prescriptions originate from private healthcare providers, despite being eligible for those benefits under national healthcare programmes.

According to Dr. Clarke, greater collaboration between the public and private healthcare sectors is needed to reduce fragmentation and ensure all citizens receive equal access to healthcare services regardless of where they seek treatment.

She maintained that Saint Lucia’s healthcare system can only achieve its full potential through improved efficiency, stronger integration and policies that place both patients and healthcare workers at the forefront of decision-making.

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