The Government of Antigua and Barbuda has defended its decision to recruit 120 nurses from Ghana to ease chronic staffing shortages and burnout in the country’s healthcare system.

Speaking at a news conference, Minister of Health Sir Molwyn Joseph said overworked nurses pose a risk to patient care and that bringing in Ghanaian nurses was a necessary step to address the shortfall. “If you have nurses who are overworked or burnt out, patient care is compromised. This initiative gives us the opportunity to fix that,” he said.

The nurses are expected to arrive over the weekend of January 23, 2026, and will be deployed to the Sir Lester Bird Medical Centre, community health clinics, and schools to strengthen both hospital and community-based services.

Antigua and Barbuda currently has 260 local nurses and 33 Cuban nurses, falling short of the 400 needed to adequately meet healthcare demand.

The Ghanaian recruits were selected through a structured, competency-based process under the Ghana Labour Exchange Programme in collaboration with the Government of Ghana. Out of 190 applicants, 127 candidates were vetted and approved by the Antigua and Barbuda Nursing Council.

Permanent Secretary Stacey Gregg-Paige emphasized that the recruitment was lawful, transparent, and fully compliant with public service, regulatory, and immigration frameworks. The nurses will undergo a three-week orientation before being integrated into the healthcare system, according to Dr. Shivon Belle-Jarvis, Medical Director of the Sir Lester Bird Medical Centre.

The move comes amid ongoing international attention on Caribbean healthcare recruitment practices, including scrutiny of Cuba’s longstanding programme of exporting healthcare professionals.