A newly established diagnostic imaging facility is offering MRI services to the public before its official opening, as healthcare providers work to address mounting delays in medical imaging across Antigua and Barbuda.

Doctors Medical Centre has begun accepting patients for MRI scans despite not having fully opened its doors, a decision officials say was prompted by urgent healthcare needs and significant wait times at existing facilities.

The facility has installed what it describes as the first open MRI machine in the region, designed to accommodate patients who experience claustrophobia in traditional closed MRI units. The equipment incorporates artificial intelligence to optimize scan quality.

Dr. Joey John emphasized that the service is available to any member of the public, not only those already waiting for appointments through Mount St. John’s Medical Centre.

“It’s for anybody,” he said, though he noted the particular focus on addressing the existing backlog of patients awaiting scans.

Dr Joey John

The centre is operated by qualified specialists and features new rather than refurbished medical equipment. Beyond MRI services, the facility is positioned as a comprehensive diagnostic imaging centre offering a range of imaging modalities.

The early opening of MRI services comes as healthcare providers continue to grapple with capacity challenges in delivering timely diagnostic care to patients across the twin-island nation.

Medical professionals have long identified diagnostic imaging delays as a bottleneck in patient care, often postponing treatment decisions that depend on scan results.