The Government has ramped up its healthcare initiatives in response to alarming cancer statistics, having identified 203 prostate cancer cases among men and 2,000 cervical cancer cases among women in 2024. In light of the increasing incidence of these cancers, President Dr. Irfaan Ali has pledged to broaden screening and treatment programs across the country.

In 2024, a robust cervical cancer screening initiative was implemented, yielding valuable data to inform public healthcare spending. To date, 12,000 women aged 21 to 65 have participated in cervical cancer testing, with a positive detection rate of 17 percent, resulting in over 2,040 confirmed cases.

For men, prostate cancer screening has also seen significant growth. Over 13,688 Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) tests were performed in 2024, with 19 percent of participants exhibiting elevated PSA levels. Out of those, 536 underwent biopsies, and a concerning 38 percent tested positive for prostate cancer.

During a live address, President Ali encouraged citizens to prioritize early screening as a means to enhance access to preventable and treatable healthcare solutions. He stated, “These things are treatable with early detection, and it also reduces public health expenditure in the long term if we can detect early, if we can avoid. We are working now to establish a national program with Mount Sinai, as technology advances, to roll out these tests on a national scale. This will help align our public health expenditure now and in the future with the statistics I’ve just presented.”

In addition to cancer care, healthcare investments have resulted in a remarkable 700 percent increase in the number of patients benefiting from the Government’s assistance program. In 2019, only 684 patients received hearing aids, but this number soared to nearly 3,000 by 2024.

Furthermore, the expansion of dialysis treatment has been notable, with over 550 patients now receiving free treatment across various regions, compared to just 64 patients in 2019. “These are the results of a healthcare system that is delivering a world-class service focused on diagnostics, treatment, and prevention because we want a healthy population,” President Ali remarked.

Eye care services have also improved significantly. In 2024, a total of 68,320 eye tests were conducted, and nearly 55,000 individuals received free prescription glasses. Additionally, cataract surgeries have increased dramatically, rising from just 16 procedures between 2015 and 2020 to 3,665 surgeries performed at Port Morant Hospital over the last four years.

President Ali reiterated the Government’s commitment to establishing a world-class healthcare system that emphasizes prevention, early detection, and effective treatment. He highlighted the expansion of regional medical facilities, enhanced access to diagnostic tools, and the ongoing commitment to free treatment programs as key components of the administration’s proactive approach to improving public health outcomes.