Every Virgin Islander deserves access to quality healthcare close to home. A Roach Francis Administration will focus on four priorities: stabilizing our hospitals, strengthening the healthcare workforce, expanding access to care, and improving health outcomes across our communities. From Day One, we will focus on practical solutions that improve care, strengthen services, and build a healthier Virgin Islands.

Fix the hospitals' finances before the new walls go up.

Day One

• The Virgin Islands is investing billions of dollars to rebuild our hospitals, but new buildings alone will not solve the challenges facing our healthcare system. Financial instability, billing problems, staffing shortages, and operational inefficiencies continue to affect patient care and hospital performance.

• We will immediately begin reviewing hospital operations, strengthen revenue collection systems, support independent oversight of hospital reconstruction projects, and work with hospital leadership to improve financial performance and accountability.

  A hospital must be more than a building. It must be financially stable, properly staffed, and equipped to provide quality care.

Recruit and Grow Our Own.

First 100 Days

• Hospitals and clinics continue to struggle to recruit and retain the healthcare professionals needed to meet growing demand for services. These shortages place additional pressure on providers and can make it harder for patients to access timely care.

• We will expand recruitment and retention efforts, strengthen partnerships with the University of the Virgin Islands, maximize available federal workforce programs, and develop incentives that help attract and recruit healthcare professionals in the Territory.

  A stronger healthcare workforce means greater access to care, shorter wait times, and better health outcomes for everyone.

Bring Healthcare Closer to Home.

First Term

• Residents should not have to leave the Territory or wait months for appointments to receive the care they need. Access to primary care, behavioral health services, specialty care, and long-term support remains a challenge for many families.

• We will expand community health services, strengthen telehealth access, improve behavioral healthcare services, support preventative health initiatives, and work to ensure residents can receive more of the care they need close to home.

  Healthcare should be accessible, affordable, and available when people need it most.

Fight for Healthcare Equity: Putting Virgin Islanders on Equal Footing

First Term

• Federal healthcare policies continue to place the Virgin Islands at a disadvantage when it comes to funding, reimbursement, and access to critical services. These disparities create additional burdens for patients, providers, and healthcare institutions.

• We will work with our federal partners and Delegate to Congress to pursue fair treatment under Medicare and Medicaid programs, advocate for policies that strengthen healthcare funding, and ensure the Virgin Islands receives the resources needed to meet the healthcare needs of our people.

  Quality healthcare should never be dependant on where you live. Every Virgin Islander deserves access to the same opportunities and protections available elsewhere in the United States.