Joseph Urges Investment in Small Island Health Systems at UN Forum

Antigua and Barbuda’s Health Minister Michael Joseph has called for immediate investment in the health systems of small island states, warning that promising medical technology will have limited impact unless countries have the equipment, supplies and capacity to deliver care.

Speaking at the Global Health Futures Forum at United Nations Headquarters, Joseph said stronger partnerships are needed to help small island developing states meet current health needs while preparing for the future. Those states, he noted, must contend with recurring climate threats and tight public finances.

“Before we can talk about the future of healthcare, we have to address what people need today,” Joseph said. “We see real opportunity in new technology, but governments like ours cannot build the necessary capacity alone. We need partnerships and investment now.”

The Minister of Health, Wellness, Environment and Civil Service Affairs said Antigua and Barbuda is using data to identify where limited resources can make the greatest difference. He pointed to a programme expanding access to reading glasses for people with presbyopia, a condition that makes it difficult to focus on nearby objects and can affect both daily life and work.

Joseph also highlighted an initiative to screen 16,000 schoolchildren, allowing vision problems to be detected and addressed before they interfere with learning.

“Many children grow up believing that the way they see is the way the world looks,” he said. “Early screening gives us the chance to identify a problem and help a child before it affects years of learning.”

Joseph welcomed the potential of artificial intelligence in healthcare, including its use in stroke assessment and the analysis of eye examination images. But he said investment in innovation must be accompanied by support for the essential supplies, diagnostic equipment and health services that patients need now.

The forum brought together leaders from government, healthcare, technology, investment and philanthropy to discuss practical ways to improve health outcomes.