A new state-of-the-art hospital is coming to Grand Bahama over the next few years.
This announcement was made by the Minister for Grand Bahama, Dr. Hon. Michael Darville, as he officially opened the 12th Annual Medical Conference of the Grand Bahama Medical and Dental Association.
“There is no question that the residents of Grand Bahama have out-grown the Rand Memorial Hospital and if the truth be told, in spite of the upgrades done by the last administration, the facility is still lacking and does not meet the necessary requirements to implement the government’s plan for state of the art health care delivery or make up the drive necessary to drive the lucrative medical tourism product,” said Minister Darville.
“Therefore in response to our research and findings, this administration is committed to constructing a new state of the art hospital on Grand Bahama during our term in office. We will do this using Bahamian contractors and upgrading all existing clinics throughout Grand Bahama.
“I would also like to commend the former Minister of Health Dr. Marcus Bethel, who paved the way through land preparation necessary for construction of our new state of the art hospital under the last Christie Administration.”
The Minister said that his government is also committed to national health insurance and that they are driving policies to ensure that it is implemented during their term in office.
He further stated that the health and safety of Grand Bahamians is paramount to his administration, “and as Minister of Grand Bahama I am committed to leading the charge to ensure that the residents of this community have access to modern, state of the art medical facilities that are adequately staffed, with trained medical personnel.”
He noted that just this year, as part of his administration’s commitment to doubling the investment in education, some 60 scholarships were awarded to medical students and other health care providers as part of the government’s plan to prepare for the expansion at both the Rand Memorial Hospital and the Princess Margarette Hospital.
He said that the increased funding for training nurses and other health care professionals is done in order to meet the demands for the current upgrades and improvements in medical infrastructure in Nassau and the construction of the new hospital here on Grand Bahama.
“As Minister of Grand Bahama, it is my mandate to ensure that medical infrastructure for Grand Bahama advance and I assure you that I am firmly committed to accomplishing this important mandate during our term in office,” added Minister Darville.
“So I invite you all to continue to partner with the Ministry of Grand Bahama in the fight to control and alleviate all forms of diseases that is threatening the lives of Grand Bahamians, especially our women.”
Minister Darville began his address to the Medical Conference by bringing greetings from the Prime Minister, Hon. Perry Christie, and the Member of Parliament for West End and Bimini and Minster of Tourism Hon. Obie Wilchcombe, who has partnered with the Grand Bahama Ministry to revive the island’s tourism sector, by bringing to the forefront both the legislation and the framework necessary to jumpstart the medical tourism product here on the island. The Minister also brought greetings from the Minister of Health, Hon. Perry Gomez, who is expected to join the Medical Conference later this week.
Minister Darville said that as policy makers in this administration, they must review the current Medical Act, put forth recommendations that would certainly make all licensed physicians in The Bahamas Medical Council to participate in continuing medical education as part of the requirements for renewal of licenses going forward.
This shift in policy, he said, will enable those on this island to bring modernized clinic practice by creating the infrastructure necessary to provide adequate care for all patients.
“Colleagues, the explosion of non-communicable diseases throughout our country, coupled with the escalating health care costs, calls for public health care practitioners to remain focused on training and re-training, particularly at the primary health care level,” the Minister added.
“We must also have an aggressive preventative strategy to ensure that we improve health care delivery from Sweeting’s Cay to West End.
“We must certainly fight to save this generation and the ones to follow through preventative strategies, aggressive consultation, and medical education, which would certainly reduce the incidence of morbidity and mortality brought on by diseases associated with lifestyles.”
He added that as a government they must revisit the breadbasket items and all Ministries, he stated, must synergistically work together to lower the costs of wholesome foods throughout this country, giving Bahamians affordable choices.
This he said, must be a part of the national preventative plan going forward.
“Let me assure you, this administration is committed to doing so,” he said.
“We must all be minded of the fact that the delivery of health care services is an expensive business. Therefore, as health care professionals we must collectively address the inadequacies of our primary health system, prevent wastage, while providing quality, but cost effective services to all the residents of Grand Bahama irrespective of race, class or socio-economic background.”
source: http://www.freeport.nassauguardian.net / Local / National News / by Yasmin Popsecu / Freeport News Reporter <yasmin@nasguard.com / Saturday, October 06th, 2012
