Your Ultimate Guide To Barbados

Health in Barbados

Barbados enjoys a certain standard of health care that has become attainable to all. 

A breakdown of the category Health in Barbados includes:-

The island has two (2) principal hospitals, the Queen Elizabeth Hospital and Bayview Hospital. The Queen Elizabeth Hospital is owned by the Barbados government and is the island's principal health care facility. It is also an appointed teaching facility associated with the University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus. Bayview Hospital is privately owned and operated and provides the people of Barbados, the Caribbean and beyond with prime private medical health care. Prescriptions from any of these hospitals and clinics on the island can be easily filled at any nearby pharmacy.

Hospitals on the island are supported by a number of polyclinics that are scattered throughout the island. These polyclinics are open throughout the course of the day with a primary role of providing free medical care such as dental visits and health care services that cater to children, the elderly and pregnant women.

Sandy Crest and FMH Emergency Medical Clinic are the two (2) privately owned full-service medical centers on the island. Sandy Crest is a 24 hour medical facility that is located on Barbados' West Coast and prides itself on a five-star service to its patients and a friendly and highly trained medical and non-medical staff on board. Their mission is to provide timely, compassionate and comprehensive healthcare services in keeping with their unique setting and available resources. They continually strive to understand their patient's needs in order to guarantee the delivery of the highest quality care. FMH Emergency Medical Clinic is located in Belleville which is on the outskirts of Barbados' capital city Bridgetown. They provide a comprehensive medical service with medical staff who are adept at accident and emergency care.

Alternative Lifestyles

In recent years, the people of Barbados have been opening up their minds more and more to the concept of healthier lifestyles. With this on the horizon, Barbadians have been triggered into fitness modes that see them leaving their homes and offices and getting physical in gyms, on the streets and on the beaches.

Gyms throughout Barbados offer a variety of services. There are the upmarket gyms such as Surfside Wellness Centre that affords you the opportunity to work out in air-conditioned comfort and total usage of state-of-the-art equipment. The other extreme option is to join what we call a 'backyard gym' which gives you the same complete workout but at a much more reduced price. There has also been a recent emergence of 'out of the box' fitness with the growing number CrossFit boxes, zumba and spin classes and other forms of fun exercise.  

Many have been turning to the route of alternative medicine and all it has to offer. The wonderful benefits of integrating mind, body and soul all in a quest to heal, shape and grow has somewhat taken over the island in one way or another. Health food stores, natural health services and practitioners along with herbal specialists have all surfaced in order to help the educate the general public of Barbados and beyond to the many advantages associated with alternative living.