CIG Begins Transition of Public Health Unit to Strengthen National Public Health System

Government has begun moving the Public Health Unit from the Health Services Authority (HSA) to the Ministry of Health, Environment and Sustainability (MHES), bringing key public health responsibilities closer to national decision-making and planning.

Public health is about preventing illness, tracking diseases, and protecting the health of the community. This includes work such as vaccination programmes, monitoring outbreaks like dengue or COVID-19, collecting health data, and identifying risks such as rising rates of diabetes or heart disease.

Bringing this work into the Ministry will make it easier to connect health data with national policies and decisions. For example, information on disease trends can be used more directly to shape prevention programmes, guide funding, and plan for emergencies such as outbreaks or natural disasters. It will also improve how information is collected and used across the country. A more coordinated approach will help Government better understand what is affecting people’s health and respond earlier and more effectively.

This change will strengthen accountability for public health programmes, making it clearer who is responsible for results and how decisions are made. Public health is a core responsibility of Government, and placing it within the Ministry supports clearer links between the information collected about people’s health and the policies designed to protect it.

Minister for Health, Environment and Sustainability, the Hon. Katherine Ebanks-Wilks, said the transition reflects the Government’s responsibility to strengthen the country’s public health system and modernise how national public health functions are coordinated.

“This transition is about doing what is in the best interest of the Cayman Islands and the wellbeing of our people. Strengthening the public health system was a commitment this Government made, and it is a commitment we are delivering on. It has been a clear priority for the Ministry.”

“Bringing public health into the Ministry connects data, policy, and planning more directly. This helps us better monitor population health, respond to emerging risks, and ensure prevention and preparedness are part of national decision-making. It also strengthens accountability and supports evidence-based policy across Government.”

Chief Officer for the Ministry of Health, Environment and Sustainability, Tamara Ebanks, said the transition will be implemented through a structured process designed to maintain continuity of services and strengthen coordination across the health system.

“Our priority is to ensure that public health programmes and services continue without interruption,” the Chief Officer said. “The Ministry will work closely with Public Health staff and with our partners at the Health Services Authority to support a phased transition that maintains strong collaboration across the health system. It also recognises the dedicated work of the Public Health team, much of which takes place behind the scenes to protect and improve community health.”

Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Hilary Wolf, said strong surveillance and epidemiology are central to protecting population health and supporting informed decision-making.

“Public health surveillance and epidemiology provide the information needed to identify risks, monitor disease trends, and guide prevention strategies. Strengthening the public health function within Government supports systematic collection and analysis of national data, helping ensure that national health policy, planning, programmes, and emergency preparedness  are guided by evidence and clinical expertise.”

Current public health services will continue as normal. This includes vaccinations, disease tracking, and health protection programmes. The Health Services Authority will continue to provide clinical care, including hospital services, testing, and treatment. Public health teams will keep working closely with HSA doctors, nurses, and laboratories.

The move will happen in stages to avoid disruption and allow time to put the right people, systems, and processes in place.

More information will be shared as the work moves forward.