Antigua and Barbuda has formalized seven medical cooperation agreements with Hangzhou Normal University following a week-long high-level visit by Professor Jingwei Zhang, a leading specialist from the institution’s hospital and medical faculty.
Director General of Communications Maurice Merchant announced the agreements Friday during the post-Cabinet media briefing.
Merchant said Professor Zhang met with the Cabinet after several days of engagements focused on strengthening medical collaboration, advancing healthcare innovation and supporting capacity development within Antigua and Barbuda’s health system.
Cabinet members also received a detailed lecture on heart health, which formed part of the broader cooperation discussions.
According to the briefing, the agreements include establishing an Eastern Caribbean Chest Pain Center; specialist medical exchanges and clinical support; telemedicine and digital-health initiatives; professional training for doctors, nurses and technicians; and joint public-health and chronic-disease research programmes.
The cooperation also covers diagnostic innovation and expanded collaboration in areas identified during the professor’s visit.
Merchant said the partnership is expected to deepen Antigua and Barbuda’s access to specialist expertise, strengthen workforce training and support the modernization of clinical services as the country prepares for major health-sector upgrades in 2026.
The government is also exploring opportunities for medical-tourism development based on shared expertise and emerging medical technologies introduced through the collaboration.
The seven agreements will be detailed in the published Cabinet notes, alongside updates on the country’s forthcoming renal care centre, cancer centre reopening, new neurosurgery service and other health-system reforms.
