Saint Lucia’s public spending on health was 3.5 per cent of GDP in 2010, equivalent to US$503 per capita. In the most recent survey, conducted between 1997 and 2010, there were 47 doctors, and 216 nurses and midwives per 100,000 people. Additionally, in the period 2007-12, 100 per cent of births were attended by qualified health staff and in 2012, 99 per cent of one-year-olds were immunised with one dose of measles. In 2010 94 per cent of the country’s population was using an improved drinking water source and 65 per cent had access to adequate sanitation facilities.
Saint Lucia has two public hospitals, St Jude’s Hospital and Victoria Hospital, with the latter being the largest. There are district hospitals at Vieux Fort, Dennery and Soufriere that offer primary health care services and limited secondary care and emergency services. There are also more than 30 health centres. Saint Lucia has one privately run hospital and a number of other private facilities that provide specialised medical and dental services.
Saint Lucia imports all of its pharmaceutical requirements. Total expenditure on pharmaceuticals was about 1.6 per cent of GDP (US$15 million) in 2008. The government imports pharmaceuticals through the Pool Procurement Service of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (PPS/OECS) enabling it to maximise the value of health care services to Saint Lucians through the advantages of buying in bulk collectively, along with neighbouring countries. Saint Lucia’s small pharmaceutical industry is regulated in part by the Pharmacy Council of Saint Lucia to ensure that it functions in the best interests of public health. The council licenses pharmacists, wholesalers, distributors/importers, exporters of medicines and pharmacies.
The most recent act of parliament relating to mental health in Saint Lucia is the Mental Health Act (1957). There are 5.2 mental health outpatient facilities per 100,000 people in Saint Lucia and 69 beds for mental health patients per 100,000 people.
