Healthcare Crisis Sparks Protests Across Virgin Islands
At JFL, protesters highlighted unsafe conditions in the hospital’s modular units. Reports surfaced of a nurse collapsing in a cardiac wing after temperatures reached nearly 100 degrees due to a chiller failure. Protesters noted the lack of hazard pay, backup systems, and a clear timeline for long-term solutions.
Inside the hospital, staff reported operating without essential supplies such as soap, pulse-oximeters, and proper sanitation tools. Feeding tubes are reportedly being reused, and there are shortages of diapers. On the diagnostic side, JFL is said to lack an MRI machine, a portable X-ray, and a full-time neurologist. Additionally, one anesthesiologist is reportedly covering the entire hospital, working 11-day stretches alone.
On St. Thomas, the demonstration outside Schneider Regional Medical Center was smaller but carried a similar message. Protesters cited broken supply chains, overworked staff, and a need for decisive leadership to address the ongoing issues.
JFL CEO Darlene Baptiste, who previously served as Health Commissioner, addressed protesters outside the hospital. She acknowledged the significant challenges facing the facility and revealed that nearly 98% of a recent $6.5 million emergency fund has already been spent, primarily on paying off back debt rather than improving patient care. Baptiste stated that critical supplies have been ordered, digital records are expected to return within the next month, and an outside firm has been hired to revamp the hospital’s billing systems. However, these measures remain in progress.
The protests underscore a broader concern about whether the voices of healthcare workers and patients are being heard and whether the territory’s hospitals can provide reliable care in times of need.
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