A new healthcare initiative aimed at connecting Saint Lucians with specialised medical treatment in India has been launched by Albina St Ange-Augustin, a Saint Lucian-born nurse based in the UK.
Her company, Orbital Well, officially debuted on Wednesday, August 6, at the Harbor Club. St Ange-Augustin, a former primary school teacher who took up nursing after migrating to the United Kingdom, is the founder and managing director of the initiative.
“We are not here to replace local services,” St. Ange-Augustin said at the launch. “We are here to extend options… because we are locally based, we’ve understood your needs and formed this company.”
Orbital Well is built on partnerships with local doctors Timotheus Dorh and Kedhma Dorh, as well as UK-based Dr Adebowale Adesina. Together, the team facilitates access to a network of Joint Commission International (JCI)-accredited hospitals and physicians in India, a growing destination for medical tourism, reportedly welcoming millions of patients annually.
Saint Lucians using the service will be matched with specialists in India based on their medical needs. “You can expect that within 48 hours of that initial contact, you will be matched with a specialist who’ll be able to take care of you,” Dorh said. The company also promises continued patient support once clients return to Saint Lucia.
The managing team promises that the service, accessible via both a website and a mobile app bearing the company’s name, will offer several potential benefits, including lower medical costs, payment plan options, faster visa processing and access to internationally trained doctors.
The initiative has also gained the support of the Saint Lucian government.
On Tuesday, Orbital Well’s team met with Saint Lucia’s Ministry of Health to discuss the initiative. St Ange-Augustin described the meeting as a “frank and constructive discussion” and “a reflection of the ministry’s commitment of upholding the highest standard of healthcare”.
Health Minister Moses Jn Baptiste, who spoke at the launch, said the government’s focus is on prevention and long-term sustainability.
“We cannot continue as a country to simply speak about sickness and curing illnesses,” Jn Baptiste said.
Jn Baptiste added that the government is working on a sustainable model to support financing for healthcare. “For too long, we’ve been going through this: ‘How do we pay for healthcare? How do we get services?’ We have a plan. We’re already working on it.”
The minister also commended the Orbital Well team for taking steps towards assisting Saint Lucians with access to healthcare options.
“I’m very proud of you. We can do these things!” he told the Orbital Well team. “Saint Lucians coming together with partners all around the world. We are world-class, and we want to encourage you, as a government, to do these things.”
