The Commonwealth of Dominica has taken a significant step toward strengthening its national healthcare infrastructure. On January 14, 2026, the nation’s Cabinet officially authorized the creation of thirty-four permanent Public Health Aide positions, to be integrated within the Ministry of Health, Wellness and Social Services.
This strategic decision involves classifying the new roles at Level II and is a core component of the government’s broader initiative to reinforce primary healthcare and expand community-based services. A dedicated annual budget of $702,836.10 has been allocated to the Primary Health Care sector to fund these positions, ensuring their financial sustainability.
In a parallel move, the Cabinet has mandated that all existing temporary and contracted Public Health Aides be transitioned into permanent employment. This regularization is contingent upon the successful completion of standard governmental recruitment and verification protocols.
Government officials assert that this policy is designed to achieve multiple critical objectives: enhancing the overall resilience of the national health system, improving the retention of skilled healthcare staff, and guaranteeing consistent, uninterrupted care for communities. Furthermore, the shift to permanent status is expected to foster greater accountability, streamline performance management, and increase administrative efficiency by eliminating the cumbersome cycle of repeated contract renewals and seeking continual Cabinet approvals for extensions.
This latest action continues a policy trajectory set in May 2025, when the government approved the regularization of more than eighty long-serving non-established workers throughout the public service. The administration describes these efforts as a demonstration of its “continued commitment to modernising and stabilising the public sector workforce,” signaling a long-term investment in its human resources and public service delivery.