It will be next year at the earliest that the Public Health Department will be independent of the Health Services Authority, according to Health Minister Sabrina Turner.
Speaking in Parliament on Wednesday, 20 Sept., she said there are several steps to the process that still have to be taken before the separation is made official.
In August last year, Turner said Cabinet had approved “in principle” for her ministry to develop a business case to reform Public Health.
At the time, she said that while the COVID-19 pandemic had highlighted a need for the move, there had been support as far back as 2008.
Last week, Opposition Leader Roy McTaggart, who is MP for George Town East, asked in Parliament for an update from the health minister on the plans.
She responded that the Ministry of Health and Wellness had received a strategic outline case last month, assessing the available options on the development of the department.
“The ministry is currently preparing a Cabinet paper to present the strategic outline case and outline the next steps to Cabinet for review and acceptance,” she said.
This will be presented at the end of this month or in early October, Turner told Parliament.
Once that has been accepted, a formal business case is then needed, which will likely take another six to eight months, she said.
“That will provide a clearer timeline and give more details,” she explained.
“But I must say that we are well in advance in preparation and laying a true foundation for this move to become a reality,” the minister added.
Turner noted that the ministry is also working on the Public Health Act which is in its advanced stages and will soon go to Cabinet for support for the bill to be legally drafted.
“Developing and enhancing the Public Health Department is intended to improve the national focus of public health,” Turner said.
“The desire is to develop the scope of public health beyond the traditional focus on immunisations.”
To do that, the plan is to strengthen and equip the department to have a modern public health capacity for protecting and improving Cayman’s health.
“It is also envisioned to be a national focal point, gathering and monitoring health data from all healthcare providers on island, both public and private,” she said.
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