The Ministry of Health and Social Services is the authority responsible for safeguarding and promoting the health and social wellbeing of the people of Montserrat. The Ministry is led by the Minister for Health and Social Services who has constitutional responsibility.  The Permanent Secretary has oversight responsibility for the management and strategic coordination and administration of the operations of the Ministry, and its related departments. The Chief Medical Officer provides technical guidance on local, regional and international public health matters as well as manages and oversees the provision of medical staff for the health system. The Ministry seeks to provide a caring and integrated system of health and social services that facilitates human development and improves the quality of life in Montserrat by:

• Developing proactive policies, legislation, strategies, and programmes for the health and social service sectors.
• Promoting gender equity, social justice, and the progressive realization of the right to health.
• Performing essential public health functions, including health promotion, public health surveillance, research, and control of risks to public health.
• Mitigating the impact of natural and man-made disasters on the health of the population.
• Delivering a wide range of social protection programmes and services, including social safety net programmes targeting the most vulnerable members of the population.

All these activities are performed through close collaboration with other sectors and international agencies and development partners, community participation, and promoting self-reliance by building upon, and increasing the assets and capabilities of individuals and social groups to improve their standard of living.