The Ministry of Health and Social Development, in collaboration with the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) and the BVI Health Services Authority, has introduced the Chronic Care Model, a framework designed to improve the care and treatment of patients with chronic illnesses.

Speaking with the Department of Information and Public Relations following a two-day meeting which was held on November 28 and 29, Chief Medical Officer in the Ministry of Health and Social Development Dr. Irad Potter stated, “The objectives of the meeting were to perform a gap analysis to identify the areas within the health sector that needed to be strengthened as it relates to chronic care and to inform the development of a plan of action to bridge the gap as we move forward with use of this model In the Virgin Islands.”

The Chronic Care Model seeks to use strategies that will transform and improve patient care to ensure a more personalised, patient-oriented, proactive and prevention-focused health care systems.

It is based on the framework of the Caribbean Quality of Diabetes Care Improvement Project with the goal to progress from acute focused ‘find it and fix it’ health care approaches towards one that is proactive, provides comprehensive and coordinated care and is designed to meet the long term needs of patients.

Workshop facilitator, Dr. Tomo Kanda, Advisor on Chronic Diseases PAHO Office of the Eastern Caribbean Countries highlighted the need for countries to develop specific ongoing health care strategies to reach specific target groups, such as men, as it related to prevention and treatment of chronic diseases and cancers.

Other topics discussed during the meeting included a situational analysis of Chronic Diseases and challenging issues in the Virgin Islands and the current system and services for Primary Health Care.

Over 20 participants comprised of nurses, physicians and other public health officers learned more about the Chronic Care Model and were introduced to the PAHO Chronic Care Passport, a document to be used by patients to help them manage their conditions, and to provide valuable information for health care providers in the event of an emergency.

The Virgin Islands is the sixth Caribbean country to participate in the two year project which is facilitated by PAHO.

The Ministry of Health and Social Development endeavours to provide leadership that promotes health, social well being and a safe environment.