The Virgin Islands Medical Society (VIMS) has stepped up its focus on healthcare policy, hosting a non-partisan 2026 Gubernatorial Candidate Healthcare Policy Forum to address major healthcare challenges facing the U.S. Virgin Islands.

The September forum brought physicians and gubernatorial candidates together to discuss healthcare policy and the future of medical services across the territory. According to the Medical Society, the event was designed to provide evidence-based discussion on the USVI healthcare system.

Only two candidates participated in the virtual forum. VIMS has asked the remaining campaigns to submit written responses to five core healthcare policy questions, allowing the medical community to review their positions on issues affecting healthcare delivery in the territory.

The initiative comes as healthcare access, medical staffing, hospital services and the long-term development of the territory's healthcare system remain important public issues.

For residents across St. Thomas, St. John and St. Croix, the forum places healthcare policy directly into the 2026 public discussion and gives medical professionals an opportunity to seek specific commitments from candidates.