Physicians Express Disgust Over OKEUH Situation

The President of the Saint Lucia Medical and Dental Association (SLMDA) has written a strongly worded letter complaining about the situation at the Owen King European Union Hospital (OKEUH) and in the local health care system. Dr. Merle Clarke wrote the letter on behalf of OKEUH physicians. Clarke addressed the July 31, 2024, letter to Joanna Reynold-Arthurton, Chairperson of the Millennium Heights Medical Complex (MHMC) Board of Directors. The MHMC comprises the OKEUH, the National Mental Wellness Centre, the Turning Point Drug & Alcohol Rehabilitation Centre, and the Secondary Care Hospital.  In her letter, the SLMDA President said the consensus of the OKEUH physician body is that the MHMC board, ostensibly tasked with drafting policy to run the hospital efficiently, has “failed miserably.” According to Clarke, a significant proportion of the board’s membership appeared to focus solely on micromanagement and creating a toxic environment rather than ensuring conditions to guarantee the best patient care. The SLMDA President noted that Saint Lucia’s current patient profile comprises an aging population, a high burden of chronic non-communicable diseases, and victims of unchecked violent crime, and road accidents. However, Dr. Clarke questioned how the OKEUH could function and how its physicians could save lives...