Grenada healthcare system: Ultimate guide

Grenada’s citizenship by investment program attracts applicants from all over the world. Also, the country is popular among tourists because of its beauty and opportunities for diving, surfing and yachting. Visitors may need medical services, so it’s helpful to know about the options.

The healthcare system in Grenada is divided into public and private sectors. The Ministry of Health, Wellness & Religious Affairs regulates them. Primary and preventive healthcare in Grenada is available in both the public and private sectors.

Medical services in Grenada have been actively developing. The country has a good situation with obstetric aid, tuberculosis prevention, and a low WASH mortality rate, according to the World Health Organisation.

Data provided by The World Bank

Grenada has seven major hospitals and around 30 medical stations and healthcare centres. Every household in Grenada has a medical facility within a 5-kilometre radius.

Pharmacies in Grenada are well stocked, including prescription medicines.

English is the official language of Grenada. Thus, there is no communication barrier between local medical staff and English-speaking patients.

Preventive healthcare and acute disease treatments in Grenada are effective. For instance, the country has a 100% success rate in tuberculosis treatment. About 73% of male sufferers of cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases or chylomicron retention disease aged 30 to 70 survive.

The infant mortality rate in Grenada has been rapidly decreasing and is now 15 per 1000 births, compared with the global’s 27 per 1000 births. All deliveries are assisted by trained medical staff. According to the World Bank, zero maternal deaths were detected in Grenada from 2013 to 2017.

St George’s University School of Medicine is the pride and joy of Grenada and the entire Caribbean. It belongs to St George’s University and accepts students from the Caribbean and overseas, including the US, the UK, and Canada.

Case study: getting Grenada citizenship to enter St George’s medical school

The Doctor of Medicine program at St George’s medical school is accredited by US regulatory bodies. More than 990 of the school’s graduates got US residencies in 2022. Thus the school’s clinical program is delivered at more than 75 affiliated medical facilities in Grenada, the US, and the UK.

The St George’s General Hospital — the biggest one in Grenada, with more than 200 beds — is located on the campus territory.

Grenada’s public healthcare sector is financed by taxation and foreign grants, for example, from the EU countries. The government’s healthcare expenditure is around $535 per person — which is almost 5% of Grenada’s GDP. Primary medical care in Grenada is free.

There is no national health insurance scheme in Grenada, but the country has been working on it. Not to be mistaken with a National Insurance Scheme of Grenada, which is already in place: it is compulsory and covers work-related injuries for the nationals.

There are seven healthcare districts in the public healthcare sector in Grenada. A referral system is in place, which is restricted: general practitioners can only make referrals to certain pre-approved specialists. Also, Grenada has three government-run acute care hospitals. There residents and visitors of the country can get free primary care, including 24-hour emergency and paediatric care, dentistry, surgeries, and other procedures.

Patients may still be required to pay small fees for support services, such as lab work, physiotherapy, or pharmaceuticals. Children, the elderly, and the indigent usually aren’t charged at all.

Grenada’s private healthcare sector has notable advantages. Private clinics have specialists and procedures absent in public medical facilities.

There are four private hospitals in Grenada and several private medical centres, laboratories, and independent practitioners.

Emergency services in Grenada’s private healthcare sector are more robust as well. But even the private sector often relies on off-country medical services, especially with advanced treatments. In emergency cases, patients in Grenada may require airlifting to another Caribbean island or the US.

Private health insurance is a good choice. Patients of private medical facilities in Grenada usually pay cash on the spot. In some cases — such as with complex surgeries, and especially with emergency airlifting — it results in hefty medical bills. Private insurance helps reduce costs significantly.

Any private health insurance plan bought for Grenada should provide international coverage, regardless of whether the insured is a visitor or a resident. Programs like that will cover the following:

• healthcare expenses, such as hospital stays and doctor visits;

• medical evacuation, including airlifting;

• pharmacy prescriptions;

• pre-existing health conditions.

Grenada residents and visitors, including nationals, expats, students, and tourists, can find an insurance plan according to their needs.

The World Bank states that the average life expectancy at birth in Grenada is 75 years, which is three years higher than the global average.

The air in Grenada is clean and safe. The government aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 40% of the 2010 levels before 2030. Drinking water in the country is available for the absolute majority of people.

All about Grenada: facts about the Caribbean country

Locally sourced food is nutritious and safe for consumption. Grenada is known for its spices, especially nutmeg and cocoa. Cuisine on the island is rich in grains, vegetables, and fruit, including mango, breadfruit, papaya, custard apple and soursop. Traditional dishes include hearty stews with meat, poultry, and fish.

Grenada offers a citizenship-by-investment program. Passport holders can live in the country if they wish. Whether they choose to reside in Grenada permanently or not, they will keep access to its healthcare.

Two investment options are there for foreigners who wish to obtain Grenada citizenship by investment:

1. National Transformation Fund (NTF) contribution
   . Investors contribute at least $150,000. This option is non-refundable.
   The government spends NTF funds to improve various sectors in Grenada, including tourism, alternative tourism, and agriculture.

2. Real estate purchase. Investors buy shares in government-approved investment projects for at least $220,000. This option is refundable — in 5 years, investors can sell their shares. And during this period, they can earn income from their real estate.

Investors can include their families in their Grenada citizenship applications. Spouses, children, parents and even siblings of the investors can receive Caribbean passports and become full-fledged Grenada citizens.

Obtaining a passport by investment takes 4—6 months. Investors mustn’t visit the country to acquire or retain citizenship. Grenada allows dual citizenship: applicants can keep their previous passports.

Benefits of a Grenada passport include:

• visa-free entry to 146 countries, including the Schengen Area, the UK, China, Singapore, and Hong Kong;

• E‑2 business visa to the US eligibility, as well as B‑1/B‑2 visa to the US eligibility;

• opportunities for tax optimisation and running an international business.

Those who acquire Grenada citizenship also access its healthcare system. Below is the memo for residents and visitors of the country:

1. The public healthcare sector in Grenada provides free primary healthcare. There is no national healthcare insurance scheme yet, but there is a National Insurance Scheme which covers work-related injuries for citizens.

2. The private healthcare sector in Grenada has more options, including better equipment and access to specialists, than the public one. Services are usually paid for in cash, and only 9% of Grenada residents have private health insurance. However, it may be better to get private health insurance, whether you’re a citizen, a student, or a tourist in the country. It helps to significantly reduce the costs of treatments and cover emergencies, like transportation to another country.

3. Grenada has seven acute care hospitals and about 30 medical stations and facilities. Public hospitals are St George’s General Hospital, Princess Alice Hospital, and Mt Gay Psychiatric Hospital.

4. Air and drinking water in Grenada are clean and safe. Local produce is nutritious and safe for consumption, and that’s why it’s an excellent place to follow a healthy lifestyle.