Hon. Sen. Dr. Stephen King has proposed the introduction of a primary care training program in Saint Lucia, in partnership with locally-based medical schools.

The proposal was made at last Thursday’s senate sitting, where Dr. King demonstrated the immense value to Saint Lucia of having trained locals in primary healthcare.

“I believe that Saint Lucia can fully train primary care doctors who are able to perform at international standards, and who are accredited to work and are able to be licensed in the United States. It demands negotiation from our government, but I think there is wonderful opportunity here.”

According to Sen. King, such training will allow for a public-private sector partnership which promotes medical education tourism at the highest level.

Leader of Government Business and Minister for Legal Affairs, Home Affairs and National Security, Hon. Senator Victor La Corbiniere supported the concept. He noted that Vieux-Fort is a designated “university town” and said that steps are being made to strengthen partnerships with Saint Lucia based medical schools and institutions.

“One of the things that will be happening very soon, which the House and the Senate will have to consider, is that we are preparing legislation on the issue of licensing and regulating medical schools. We will also be providing incentives to enable the appropriate schools to come to Saint Lucia and develop the standard of medical institutions that we need to develop,” he said.

Saint Lucia is home to five medical universities: Spartan Health Sciences University, International American University College of Medicine and St. Helen University School of Medicine and Health Sciences in Vieux Fort, and American International Medical University and Atlantic University School Of Medicine, in the north.