Wheatley at OECS Health Meeting
Health Minister Hon. Vincent O. Wheatley is attending the two-day OECS Council of Health Ministers meeting in Grenada, focused on the theme 'Health Prioritisation, Strategies for Sustainable Solutions.' Ministers will discuss regional cooperation on procurement, crisis response and strengthening health systems — topics with direct implications for the BVI's medicine supply and disaster preparedness.
Wheatley, the British Virgin Islands' health minister, is attending the two-day OECS (Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States) Council of Health Ministers meeting in Grenada, which runs Wednesday, October 22 through Thursday, October 23, 2025. The gathering follows an Opening Ceremony held on Monday, October 20 at the Radisson Grenada Beach Resort where incoming Chair of the Council, Grenada’s Minister for Health Hon.
Phillip Telesford, introduced the meeting’s theme: "Health Prioritisation, Strategies for Sustainable Solutions." Telesford framed the theme as both an immediate task and a long-term vision to embed health as a foundation for resilient societies and urged a unified, regional response: "one Caribbean, one OECS, one people, to join heads, hearts and hands in addressing this immediate task." In remarks cited by Virgin Islands News Online, Outgoing Chair Hon.
Cassanni Laville of Dominica was thanked for advancing regional collaboration and capacity building during his tenure. Didacus Jules told ministers to view current challenges as opportunities to strengthen preparedness. Jules said the region must accelerate the development of national and regional capacities to prevent, respond to and mitigate the impacts of both natural and man-made crises, and to reorient models of care toward innovative, evidence-driven and context-appropriate solutions.
Also on the meeting agenda was the 38th OECS Pharmaceutical Procurement Services (PPS) Policy Board meeting, held on Tuesday, October 21. The PPS manages pooled procurement of medicines and medical supplies for OECS member states — a mechanism that can lower costs, improve negotiating power and reduce the risk of stockouts during emergencies.
Why this matters to BVI residents: decisions and agreements reached at the OECS health meetings can affect medicine prices, availability of essential drugs and regional support during hurricanes, epidemics or supply-chain disruptions. Greater collaboration on procurement and shared emergency planning could translate into more reliable access to medicines and strengthened emergency response for the BVI.
As the talks continue, local health officials will be monitoring outcomes on procurement policy, regional capacity-building initiatives and any commitments that might require follow-up funding or implementation locally. Virgin Islands News Online reported on the meetings and programme details.
Primary source: VINO