Dominica

The National Strategic Plan for Health (NSPH) 2010-2019 of Dominica aims to strengthen the healthcare system, enhance public health interventions, and address the growing burden of chronic diseases. It is informed by a Health Situation Analysis (HSA) that identifies demographic shifts, disease trends, and healthcare delivery challenges. The strategy builds on primary healthcare principles, ensuring that health services remain accessible and equitable​. The plan outlines five key strategic areas: (1) improving the population’s health status, focusing on reducing chronic non-communicable diseases, controlling communicable diseases, and strengthening maternal and child health; (2) addressing social determinants of health, such as unemployment, poverty, and education, recognizing their impact on overall well-being; (3) strengthening health services and infrastructure, ensuring accessibility, efficiency, and quality of care through better management and technology integration; (4) enhancing health system organization and governance, improving coordination between public and private stakeholders; and (5) ensuring sustainability of healthcare financing, developing innovative funding mechanisms and optimizing resource allocation​. Despite progress in life expectancy and disease prevention, challenges remain, including high prevalence of chronic diseases, workforce shortages, and financial constraints. The limited human resources necessitate reliance on external technical assistance, while healthcare financing remains heavily dependent on government subsidies. The plan’s success hinges on effective implementation, intersectoral collaboration, and sustainable investments in infrastructure, health promotion, and service delivery models​.