Healthcare
05 June, 2024
Reading Time: 4 min

Grenada healthcare system

The healthcare system of Grenada is one of the best in the Caribbean. There are more than 30 medical facilities in the country, including public acute care hospitals and medical stations. Primary care is free, but getting a private healthcare plan is still better.

Learn more about healthcare options available for residents and foreigners in Grenada.

Lyle Julien

Author •Lyle Julien

Explained the nuances of Grenada’s healthcare system

Grenada’s public and private healthcare system

Grenada healthcare system

Overview of Grenada’s healthcare system

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.

Medical service availability per 1,000 people in Grenada

Service

Number

Hospital beds

3.6

Nurses and midwives

3.1

Physicians

1.4

Surgical workforce

0.13

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.

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.

Public and private healthcare in Grenada

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.

List of contacts for public hospitals in Grenada

St George’s General Hospital
Phone: +1 473-440-2051.
Address: Grand Etang Road, St George Parish, Grenada

Princess Alice Hospital
Phone: +1 473-442-7251.
Address: 48MW+2XG, Clabony, St Andrew Parish, Grenada

Mt Gay Psychiatric Hospital
Phone: +1 473-440-1228.
Address: Mt Gay, St George Parish, Grenada

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.

Healthcare and hospitals in Grenada, the Caribbean

St George’s General Hospital is the largest medical facility in Grenada. Most primary care services there are provided for free

Quality of life and population’s health in Grenada

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.

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.

Grenada citizenship, residence, and healthcare options

Grand Anse beach in Grenada. The climate in the country is tropical and humid. The dry season is from January to May

How to get Grenada citizenship by investment

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.

Memo about the healthcare system in Grenada

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.

Immigrant Invest is a licensed agent for citizenship and residence by investment programs in the EU, the Caribbean, Asia, and the Middle East. Take advantage of our global 15-year expertise — schedule a meeting with our investment programs experts.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Does Grenada have good healthcare?

    Yes. Grenada’s healthcare system is quite good. It is one of the best in the region in some areas: for example, it provides effective obstetric aid. The healthcare standards in Europe or US may be considered superior, but medical services in Grenada have been actively developing.

    Preventive healthcare and acute disease treatments in Grenada are effective. For example, the country has a 100% success rate in treating tuberculosis. About 77% of cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases or chylomicron retention disease patients in Grenada survive.

  • Is healthcare free in Grenada?

    Primary healthcare in Grenada is free. Patients may still pay small fees for support services, such as lab work, physiotherapy, or pharmaceuticals. Children, the elderly, and the indigent usually don’t pay those fees.

    There is no national health insurance scheme in Grenada. Still, a National Insurance Scheme of Grenada is already in place: it is compulsory and covers work-related injuries for the nationals.

    A private health insurance plan is a good option, whether you’re a Grenada citizen, international student, or tourist. Private insurance will cover regular medical expenses, as well as medical emergencies that may require evacuation to another Caribbean state or the US.

  • How many hospitals are there in Grenada?

    Grenada has three government-run acute care hospitals: St George’s General Hospital, Princess Alice Hospital, and Mt Gay Psychiatric Hospital. There are also more than 30 public and private medical facilities, including four private hospitals.

  • Does Grenada have good hospitals?

    Yes. The most reputable hospital is St George’s General Hospital, which is also the biggest state-run acute care medical facility in Grenada. It’s a multispeciality clinic with various treatments for adults, children, and the elderly. The staff members are primarily graduates of the prominent Grenada School of Medicine.