Local healthcare services in Barbados are easily accessible and of a high standard, with two main hospitals on the island.
There are various medical centers, well-equipped private and public clinics, medical laboratories, pharmacies, and many private doctors in practice.
The government-run Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) has 600 beds, offers emergency services, and provides the Caribbean region with specialized clinical services in surgery, pediatrics, obstetrics, radiology, and psychiatry, to name a few.
Located in the island’s capital of Bridgetown, the QEH is an accredited teaching hospital affiliated with the University of the West Indies (UWI), offering pre-clinical training and internships for medical graduates, both local and international.
You can read all about what the QEH offers (as well as loads more healthcare information) on our Hospitals and Clinics page or contact the main QEH switchboard at (246) 436-6450.
The second-largest healthcare facility is the much smaller and privately-run Bayview Hospital, located just on the outskirts of Bridgetown.
Bayview also offers numerous specialty services in some fields but on a much smaller scale. Some services include (but are not limited to) ENT Surgery, Neurology, Cosmetic and Reconstructive Surgery, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, and even spiritual services.
Bayview offers private and shared room accommodation and prides itself on personalized care and a ‘home away from home’ atmosphere.
For more information, see our Bayview Hospital page.
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The two hospitals are government-run Polyclinics dotted all over the island providing free medical treatment for minor and general health ailments.
There are also private medical clinics, including the Sandy Crest Medical Centre (www.sandycrest.net) on the west coast, and the FMH Emergency Medical Clinic, just outside Bridgetown in the parish of St. Michael.
Need to know more? Refer to our pages on Health for a more detailed description of local facilities, health practitioners, and a list of island pharmacies.
You can also see our Settling at Home page for more Barbados health information.
Barbados Health – The Facts
Barbados ranks well in most global health indexes.
The 2013 Human Development Report UNDP Human Development Index (HDI) places Barbados 38th of 187 countries surveyed, including developing and developed nations.
The HDI measures development by combining indicators of life expectancy, education attainment, and income. This statistic is something Bajans are proud of and is encouraging for all who live on the island now and into the future.
According to the 2012 World Bank Data, the life expectancy at birth in Barbados is 75 years old.
Want more Barbados stats? See the World Bank Data for Barbados page (http://data.worldbank.org/country/barbados) and our page about the Barbados Population.
Additional Healthcare Information
Specialist services island-wide include chiropractic, acupuncture, and reflexology treatments. With the growing interest in non-traditional treatment methods, many alternative health practitioners all over the island offer services such as herbal medicine, life coaching, and Reiki practice.
Barbados is also home to the Barbados Psychiatric Hospital, located in Black Rock in the parish of St. Michael.
The Psychiatric Hospital provides both in-patient and out-patient services. It offers physical and psychiatric medical facilities, day programs, specialized professional services (social work, psychology, psychotherapy, occupational therapy), rehabilitative services, and community outreach services to raise awareness of mental health issues.
Also, Barbados operates a string of government-funded Geriatric centers that care for the aging Barbadian population.
The Barbados Ministry of Health also operates the Barbados Drug Service (BDS), which aims to provide affordable, quality drugs and pharmaceuticals to the Barbadian community.
For more information on the BDS, visit http://drugservice.health.gov.bb or email [email protected].
