Prime Minister Gaston Browne says the government is moving away from reliance on foreign medical personnel as it expands local training and works toward a self-sufficient healthcare workforce.

Speaking during an appearance on the Morning Point Show, Browne said the government is “phasing out Cuban medical personnel” while increasing investment in local healthcare training. He said the goal is to ensure that Antigua and Barbuda can staff its health system primarily with its own citizens.

“We are phasing out Cuban medical personnel and scaling up local nursing training so that we can become self-sufficient,” Browne said.

He said the policy shift reflects a long-term strategy rather than an abrupt change, aimed at building national capacity while maintaining continuity in healthcare delivery. “The objective is for us to become self-sufficient,” he said.

Browne linked the transition to broader efforts to strengthen resilience in key public services, noting that reliance on external labour leaves critical sectors exposed to disruption. He said expanding local training allows the country to retain skills, reduce long-term costs, and improve workforce stability.

The prime minister indicated that nursing education and healthcare training are central to the strategy, as demand for services continues to grow. “We are scaling up local nursing training,” he said, adding that the approach is intended to ensure sustainability over time.

His comments come amid wider regional debate about healthcare staffing models, labour mobility, and the long-term affordability of importing medical professionals, particularly as Caribbean nations seek to modernise health systems and expand services.

Browne said the government’s focus remains on building internal capacity while ensuring that patient care is not compromised during the transition. “This is about building a healthcare system that we can sustain with our own people,” he said.