The leader of the Caribbean federation of St Kitts and Nevis, Prime Minister Dr. Terrance Drew, is receiving specialized off-island medical care in Martinique after being hospitalized over the weekend for acute uncomfortable symptoms, according to official government statements and regional reporting.
On Sunday, Dr. Drew—himself a trained internal medicine physician—first presented at the Joseph N. France (JNF) General Hospital in Basseterre, the nation’s capital, reporting mild persistent discomfort, nausea, and a severe headache. The St Kitts and Nevis Cabinet Secretariat released an official health update on the Prime Minister’s condition in the early hours of Monday, confirming that clinical teams immediately admitted him for overnight observation and a full diagnostic workup.
Over an 18-hour period of continuous care, a team of attending physicians and in-house specialists monitored the Prime Minister closely. Following the completion of all initial testing and clinical reviews, treating providers confirmed that Dr. Drew remained fully conscious, alert, and clinically stable, and they expressed overall satisfaction with his initial response to care. However, out of an abundance of caution and in line with clinical recommendations drawn from their initial observations, the JNF medical team advised that the Prime Minister travel abroad for additional specialized observation and precautionary ongoing monitoring.
A source with close ties to the St Kitts and Nevis administration told regional outlet Barbados TODAY on Tuesday that the Prime Minister was transported to Martinique by air late Monday. The Cabinet Secretariat has publicly requested that citizens keep Dr. Drew in their prayers as he undergoes care, with the goal of a full and speedy recovery.
The government has also moved to reassure the public that all routine state business will continue without disruption amid the Prime Minister’s medical leave, and that regular updates on Dr. Drew’s health status will be released to the public as more information becomes available.
Dr. Drew made history as the fourth Prime Minister of St Kitts and Nevis following the nation’s 1983 independence, taking office in August 2022 after leading the St Kitts-Nevis Labour Party to a decisive victory in that year’s general election. Beyond his role as head of government, he holds multiple key cabinet portfolios, including minister of finance, national security, citizenship and immigration, health, human resource management, and social security. Prior to entering politics full-time, Dr. Drew built his career as an internal medicine physician, practicing both at JNF General Hospital—where he was admitted this weekend—and in private care.