Vincent Wheatley, has emphasized the importance of viewing health as an investment in the people and development of the Territory.

He made this statement while reporting on the recently held Ministerial Conference on Chronic Diseases and Mental Health, organized by the Pan-American Health Organization (PAHO) and World Health Organization (WHO) Small Island Developing States in Barbados from June 11 to 16.

Wheatley stated that the World Health Organization's Universal Health Care Strategy highlights the need to ensure equitable access to health care without bias.

He also pointed out that healthy people are a sign of a thriving economy and well-developed territory.

During the conference, Wheatley stressed the need for a whole-of-society approach to addressing health issues and involving all sectors of government, civil society, and service users in the policy-making process.

He also visited the Winston Scott Polyclinic in Bridgetown and met with the director of the Chronic Disease Research Center.