Dr Joseph John: Breaking new ground in healthcare MY ANTIGUA
C onsidering setting down permanent roots in Antigua? You’re probably wondering about healthcare. Meet the man who’s been revolutionising the country’s healthcare sector for the last three decades. Dr Joseph John played an integral role in the creation of the Sir Lester Bird Medical Centre and the American University of Antigua. Sir Joseph gives Luxury Locations Magazine the lowdown on
designed by a US architectural firm, meets all international codes and regulations, and follows the trend of providing care in a more hospitality-like manner rather than with a cold clinical feel. Every aspect of the complex was designed with the goal of delivering the best possible medical care, at the same time enhancing the patient experience, while building in redundant safety measures.
For example, the Radiology Imaging Centre is outfitted with the latest open MRI, CT ultrasound, 3D mammogram and X-Ray machine all equipped with AI features, with both on-site and remote specialty radiologists providing immediate reports. Our endoscopy suite is capable of not only diagnostics but also advanced therapeutic procedures and our operating rooms handle a full spectrum of surgical cases. Who is it aimed at? Primarily Antiguans & Barbudans and the
his most ambitious project to date – and the culmination of a lifelong dream. The state- of-the-art Doctors Medical Center opened in 2026, offering everything from major surgery to cutting-edge diagnostics, fertility treatment and cancer care. What inspired you to become a surgeon? As far back as I can remember, I always wanted to be a surgeon. Antigua in the late 60s had a single TV station, a CBS affiliate. There was a show called Medical Center,
region. Everything I have done has been aimed at moving local healthcare forward; that’s what drives me. Of course, I think DMC will be a huge boost to the tourism and migrant investor sectors, as it instills confidence that there’s a high level of private medical and surgical care available on island. What do you do when you’re not working? That’s rare! But I try to keep fit, I spend a lot of time with my family, and I travel when I can. Do you have a top tip for investors here? First understand the local thinking and culture and not assume you know it all because you may have come from a more developed country. There are opportunities peculiar to Antigua that you will miss out on if you have that attitude. What should every tourist experience when visiting Antigua? The real Antigua. You miss a lot when you stay at a resort and don’t venture out. We love when visitors explore our culture, and try to understand and learn what it’s really like here. Best advice you’ve ever been given? My dear friend Prime Minister Sir Lester Bird once told me life is like a math equation; there are constants and variables. You can’t do anything about the constants so don’t waste a second trying, you won’t get anywhere. Channel all your energy into manipulating the variables to make the equation work. That’s what I’ve tried to do. n
which for the first time exposed hospital life in a somewhat realistic manner. The intrigue of surgery itself, the interplay of hospital politics and the tremendous difference medical care made on the lives of patients on that show had a deep impact on me. After seeing my first episode at eight years old, I never imagined doing anything else. Later on as a teenager, I realised the hospital we had here – a 19th century former prisoner of war camp – was nothing like what I was seeing on the show. I started dreaming of changing that. So after training as a surgeon in the US, and being asked to come back home and help with the modernisation of the public
hospital system, I jumped at the opportunity. Tell us what Doctors Medical Center offers.
DMC is a comprenensive, 24/7 medical centre staffed by a multi- specialty group of physicians and specialists able to manage all outpatient, inpatient and emergency cases. The complex was
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