Our Vision and Mission
Corporate Vision:
Our Corporate Vision for the Ministry of Health reflects a preferred future state of our Ministry that will ensure successful contribution to the long-term health vision:
"The Ministry of Health is a proactive institution that makes sound evidence-based decisions to assure standards of excellence are achieved by all agencies that promote, protect and improve the health of the people of Trinidad and Tobago."
Mission:
"Our mission is to provide leadership for the health sector by focusing on policy making, planning, monitoring and regulation. The Ministry of Health will set national priorities based on needs assessment and will influence the provision of care by a combination of financing and regulation of public and private services."
Our Corporate Plan
Our Corporate Plan sets out High Level Strategic direction for the Ministry of Health for the period FY 2006 – 2007 until FY 2008 – 2009. The model that we have used to develop this Plan conforms to the specification provided in the Output Management Framework as articulated by the Government of Trinidad and Tobago, Ministry of Finance.
Click Here to Download Plan
Our Core Values
The critical values required to ensure accomplishment and fulfillment of our Vision and Mission are:
- Professionalism
We will ensure the most efficient and effective delivery of health services by trained and competent health personnel.
- Total Quality
Commitment to excellence in our health care systems and all services.
- Client-centeredness
We emphasize the delivery of health services that are responsive to consumer needs and preferences.
- Evidence-based
Relying upon research and information-driven decision-making at all levels.
- Visionary
Providing proactive leadership to the sector.
How we Work
Responsibility for the provision of health care services in Trinidad and Tobago was devolved from the Ministry of Health to Regional Health Authorities (RHAs) with the passing of the Regional Health Authorities Act No. 5 in 1994. RHAs are autonomous bodies that own and operate health facilities in their respective Regions. Today, five (5) RHAs deliver public health care services to the population of Trinidad and Tobago. They are: North West Regional Health Authority (NWRHA); North Central Regional Health Authority (NCRHA); South West Regional Health Authority (SWRHA); Eastern Regional Health Authority (ERHA) and Tobago Regional Health Authority (TRHA).
While the Ministry of Health does not directly run health facilities, it is required to play a key role in ensuring that they are properly run, by setting policies, goals and targets for Regions based on assessment of real health needs. This is the main role of the Ministry of Health. The Ministry also allocates resources to the RHAs to finance their operations.
To date, the Ministry of Health has also retained responsibility for the operations of several Vertical Services or National Programs. These span a variety of public health programs and allied health services to the population. The Departments of the Ministry of Health, its Head Office, Vertical Services, National and Special Programmes are as follows:
| Unit |
| Head Office Directorates |
- Health Services Quality Management
- Health Promotion, Public Health and Communication
- Health Policy, Research and Planning
|
- Finance and Projects
- Human Resources
- Information Systems
|
Vertical Services
|
- Public Health Inspectorate
- Trinidad Public Health Laboratory
- National Surveillance Unit
- Pharmacy/Drug Inspectorate
- Chemistry, Food & Drugs Division
- Insect Vector Control Division
- Veterinary Public Health
- National Blood Transfusion Service
- Queen’s Park Counselling Centre and Clinic
- Hansen’s Disease Control Programme
- National Tuberculosis Control Programme
- Occupational Health Unit
- Expanded Programme on Immunization
- Health Education Division
- National AIDS Programme
- Medical Library Services
- Nutrition and Metabolism Division
- Dental Nurses Training School
- Population Programme Services
- School of Advanced Nursing
- School of Nursing
- School of Midwifery
|
National and Special Programs
- Project Administration Unit
- National Health Insurance Technical Secretariat
- Community Care Programme
- School Health Programme
- National Oncology Programme
- Tissue Transplant Programme
- Chronic Diseases Assistance Programme (CDAP)
|
Our Core Business Areas:
The Ministry of Health’s core areas of business may be categorized as follows:
Policy, Research and Planning:
Formulation of strategic goals for improvement of the health status of the population
Regulation:
Continuous review and enforcement of existing legislation and development of new legislation as appropriate
Monitoring and Evaluation:
Development and implementation of systems to monitor local health industry benchmarks against international best practices for delivering and improvement of care; and surveillance of disease conditions or threats to the health of the population
Services delivered by Partners:
Health care services purchased from RHA and private sector providers and delivered to the population. These services cover primary, secondary and tertiary care, health promotion and disease prevention
Services delivered by the Ministry of Health:
Health care and allied services provided by National Programmes and Vertical Services
Corporate Governance:
Instituting a Framework that establishes the parameters within which the Health Sector executes its statutory responsibilities, maintains effective collaborative relationships and demonstrates public accountability
Our Organization Structure:
Our Customers:
We produce goods and services for the following external and internal customers:
- Members of the public
- Regional Health Authorities
- Other Government Ministries and Agencies
- Professional Associations and Regulatory Councils
- Non-Governmental Organizations
- Private sector health providers
- International organizations
- Private corporate sector
- The Media
- Ministry of Health Head Office staff
- Vertical Services staff