Permanent Secretary in the Ministry for Health and Social Development Ms. Petrona N. Davies has made it public that there is progress in the move for the establishing of a medical school in the VI. Photo: VINO/File

A medial school for the VI has had its origins, in terms of discussions and proposals, from the VIP led government of Hon. Ralph T. O'Neal, OBE. Photo: VINO/File

This was made known to reporters recently by Permanent Secretary within that Ministry, Ms. Petrona N. Davies as she noted that it is being done at the desire of Minister Hon. Ronnie W. Skelton.

The move is at the stage of preparing request for expression of interest. “Persons interested in establishing medical and nursing schools in the Virgin Islands will have a procedure to follow in probably bringing their proposals forward to the Government," Ms. Davies said.

She also said that they have developed a brief that would form legislation that will allow for the licensing of higher education facilities, including medical schools.

“That legislation is in the drafting process right now; once we receive that back, it will go through the process that will ultimately lead to it being introduced in the House of Assembly," said the Permanent Secretary.

The previous Government of the Virgin Islands Party (VIP), had proposed to house a medical school on one of the floors at the new hospital, and when questioned about this prospect on June 7, 2012, Hon. Skelton had stated, “There was no talk about a medical school during my six months in office. It will not be an option...and I don’t see it being an option in the future because eventually as BVI develops this facility will take over whatever is happening at the old facility.”

On June 29, 2010, the then VIP Government inked a contract with Effect Incorporated, a US based consultancy firm, to carry out the consultancy work associated with evaluating existing medical schools and advising the Government on possible medical schools suitable for establishment in the Territory. Government had coughed up $551,922 for the study.

At that 2010 press conference, the then Minister for Education and Culture Hon Andrew A. Fahie had stated that the Government will not own a medical school but rather it will be privatised. He had also announced that all eligible VIslanders would benefit from scholarships given.

And at a 2010 Standing Finance Committee, Hon. Skelton had pointed out if a medical school is properly established in the Virgin Islands, more persons would be involved in the health care of the Territory and legislation “can also be amended to accommodate it”.

At the SFC, he had also stated that in the future when inquiries are made regarding medical schools to be established in the Territory, he would determine what those persons would require from the Government to establish a school.