Cabinet has approved the establishment and operationalisation of the Cayman Islands Health Foundation under Section 6A of the Health Services Authority Act (2018 Revision).
The foundation was legally created in 2010 to raise and manage funds for healthcare facilities and programmes and to contribute to the Health Services Authority’s (HSA) operating needs, but key steps to make it active had not been completed.
With approval now in place, the Ministry of Health, Environment and Sustainability (MHES), working with the HSA, will prepare a detailed proposal covering governance, operating model, timelines, costs and staffing. The proposal will be submitted to Cabinet for review once finalised.
Initial actions will include appointing the foundation’s committee, identifying a head office and hiring staff, including a secretary and a fundraising specialist. Government start-up funding will be required to support these activities.
In an official release, Health Minister Hon. Katherine Ebanks-Wilks said the foundation is intended to support the long-term financial sustainability of public healthcare.
“Establishing the Health Foundation reduces pressure on Core Government funding by generating additional resources for the Health Services Authority, while supporting priority services that matter to our community,” she said, adding that the model is designed to create “opportunities for community involvement and shared ownership in strengthening our public health system”.
Once operational, the foundation is expected to attract donor-funded support that will help carry a portion of healthcare costs currently met by Government. Officials said this is intended to offset expenditure on HSA facilities and programmes, support long-term cost control and strengthen fiscal sustainability.
The foundation will also be able to direct targeted fundraising to priority areas such as mental health services for children and adolescents, community wellbeing projects and initiatives that support alignment with international healthcare standards.
MHES chief officer Tamara Ebanks said the approach is focused on accountability and measurable results, with “transparency and strong governance” at the core of the model.
The decision to operationalise the Health Foundation comes against a backdrop of financial strain at the HSA. The authority’s position shifted from a CI$8 million profit in 2021 to a $7 million loss in 2023, a trend highlighted during Finance Committee discussions on the sustainability of current healthcare spending.
