Dominica Hospitals Authority (Amendment) Act, 2024
The Dominica Hospitals Authority (Amendment) Act, 2024 (Act No. 13 of 2024) is a legislative update to the original Dominica Hospitals Authority Act of 2021. It was assented to on December 24, 2024, by the President of Dominica and officially published in the Official Gazette on January 3, 2025. This amendment enhances governance, accountability, and legal clarity within the hospital authority framework.
Purpose and Legal Context
The amendment act refines the operational and administrative scope of the Dominica Hospitals Authority, the statutory body established under the original 2021 Act to oversee public hospitals such as the Dominica China Friendship Hospital. Key updates likely include clarified powers for the board, reinforced disciplinary provisions, and expanded financial or regulatory mechanisms, aligning the Authority’s mandate more closely with national health and development strategies.
Legislative Placement and Related Acts
This Amendment Act sits alongside other health-focused legislation in Dominica that collectively evolves the island’s health governance framework. These include the Health Services Act, governing professional licensing; the Public Health Act, 1968, covering disease control and sanitation; and the Pharmacy Act, regulating pharmaceuticals.
Connection to Health Sector Governance
By refining the single statutory authority responsible for hospital oversight, the Amendment Act strengthens the connection between hospital administration and national policy goals. It empowers the Dominica Hospitals Authority to better enforce standards, manage breach responses (notably confidentiality violations as governed under Section 49 of the 2021 Act), and sustain service quality across clinical and operational domains.
This aligns with the National Resilience Development Strategy 2030 (NRDS), which prioritizes institutional resilience, improved healthcare delivery, and alignment with public health, disaster readiness, and social services infrastructure.