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For the past two years, some of the specialist doctors who agree to come to Saint Barthélemy to provide consultations at the Maison de la Santé have been provided with accommodation by the hotel and villa association. This is done through a partnership agreement signed with the local authority. On Tuesday, February 25, at the medical center in Saint-Jean (Centre Elvina), the agreement was renewed. With one new feature: free accommodation.
The hotel and villa association has taken the initiative to offer free accommodation in its establishments to specialists visiting Saint Barthélemy. "We are proud to sign this agreement for the third year," said the association's vice president, Yohan Adam. "Healthcare is one of the most important professional sectors on the island. The hotel and villa association is forty years old, has stood the test of time, and we are fortunate to have a large number of accommodations. We hope that this collaboration will continue in the future." It should be noted that all members of the association, from starred establishments to more modest structures, have committed to contributing to the functioning of this partnership.
More than 7,000 consultations in 2025
In previous agreements, the hotel and villa association had set a preferential rate (€95 per night) to accommodate specialists. The progress is therefore remarkable and has been welcomed by the president of the Collectivité, who ratified the agreement with Yohan Adam. "It's great to have taken this initiative," said Xavier Lédée. "Everyone wins, especially the residents and the island." The mayor also highlighted the involvement of the "local economic fabric," which is mobilizing in the interest of the population. The association of hotels and villas provides accommodation for specialists for approximately 70 nights per year.
The health center was inaugurated on October 26, 2023. Since then, its attendance has grown steadily, both in terms of the number of patients and the number of practitioners working there. This growth is mainly due to the work of the two employees of the structure, Carole Nardin and Victoria Gandoulf. They are involved in recruiting specialist doctors and organizing their visits, as well as acquiring equipment (largely thanks to donations from Femur, the Foundation for Emergency Medical Equipment) and making it available to practitioners.
In 2025, the health center recorded more than 7,000 consultations, an increase compared to 2024. More than thirty practitioners welcomed island residents for consultations. Four specialties were particularly in demand: angiology, cardiology, gynecology, and dermatology. For the latter, one of Carole Nardin's stated objectives is to offer the population the opportunity to benefit from more advanced consultations on site.
To achieve this, as indicated by the first vice-president of the Collectivité, Marie-Hélène Bernier (also chair of the health commission) at the territorial council meeting on February 19, the purchase of a Vectra scanner was suggested (JSB1636). This is a machine specifically designed for dermatology that can produce high-resolution digital photographs. Its price: €500,000.
A decline in healthcare provision
The role of the Maison de la Santé (Health Center) has grown considerably in 2025, particularly due to declining healthcare provision on the island. Saint Barthélemy now has four fewer general practitioners (Drs. Deregnaucourt, Husson, Weil, and Chareyre). In response, the Maison de la Santé has been authorized to temporarily host a local doctor on its premises. A new psychologist has also started working there and an assisted teleconsultation system has been launched.
In 2026, the facility's objectives are to retain specialists on call and to strengthen its cardiology services. There are also plans to welcome a new psychiatrist, expand the use of assisted teleconsultation, and set up a teledermatology project.
For the record, the Gustavia hospital reconstruction project plans to integrate the health center into the facility.
