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PM Davis highlighted the need for a ‘productive partnership’ between the Government and Medical Professionals

Thu, Aug 25th 2022, 10:48 AM
Education Finance Health

During his Official Remarks at the Oath Swearing and
Robing Ceremony to Welcome the New Medical Graduates of the University of
The West Indies School of Clinical Medicine and Research, on August 22, 2022,
Prime Minister and Minister of Finance the Hon. Philip Davis noted that one of
the best ways to ensure the good health and wellness of The Bahamas, was for
there to be productive partnership between the Government and members of
the medical profession.
“Given the role that doctors play, it almost goes without saying that you must
be at the forefront of that partnership,” Prime Minister Davis said to the
graduates, at the event held at Baha Mar Convention Centre.
“If ever we were ignorant before, through the experiences of the pandemic
and Hurricane Dorian, none of us can be in any doubt as to the valuable roles
you play in securing the health of our people,” he added.
Among those present at the ceremony were Minister of Education and
Technical & Vocational Training the Hon. Glenys Hanna Martin; Minister of
Health and Wellness, the Hon. Dr. Michael Darville; former Prime Minister
Most Hon. Dr. Hubert Minnis; and Parliamentary Secretary in the Office of the
Prime Minister Leon Lundy.
Prime Minister Davis said that The Bahamas should “never tire of saying
‘thank-you’ for all that doctors have done, and continue to do, to help our
people.”
“But we know that doing so has taken a terrible toll on members of your
profession,” he noted.
“We understand how doctors gave and sacrificed, through the bouts of
repeated COVID infection, the overwhelm and near collapse of our healthcare
system, the stress and mental burnout of long hours and limited resources, not
to mention the long absences from loved ones,” Prime Minister Davis added.
He continued: “We also understood how, during the height of it, many felt
under-valued and under-paid. This was why, as a matter of fundamental
principle, one of the first acts of my administration was to resolve the issue of
outstanding pay, which soured relations between the Government and
doctors. I appreciate that many have been left feeling uncertain and
demoralized, unsure that the Government will fully play its part in the
partnership.
“As long as I am charged with the leadership of the country, you have my word
that we will.”
Prime Minister Davis said that all people were truly at an inflection point in
history, not just here in The Bahamas, but around the world.
Environmental, economic and political upheavals have challenged, and are
changing the old way of doing things, he said.
“We cannot carry on as before,” Prime Minister Davis said. “For too long we
have spoken of change – now is the time to act.”
“We have already set in motion some of our plans to implement some big
changes in health and wellness,” he added. “But first we need to get to grips
with the basics.”
Prime Minister Davis pointed out that that even though they were basic, they
still required substantial investment.
“For example, we are already investing in two new, state-of-the-art hospitals in
Grand Bahama and New Providence,” he said. “This is a major step forward in
upgrading the infrastructure of our healthcare.”
“We have also expanded the provision of specialist Family Medical doctors, so
that we are well on track to ensure that every Government clinic has one,
including those in the Family Islands,” Prime Minister Davis added.
“And we are also continuing to move towards the provision of universal health
coverage.
This is a foundational change in the way Bahamians can access healthcare
services.”
Prime Minister Davis pointed out to the graduates that those “exciting
developments were happening at that time, at the beginning of their careers.
“You have the opportunity to be a part of it, to help guide and shape the
future, such that healthcare in The Bahamas can form part of each of your
personal legacies,” he said.
Prime Minister Davis said that the Government was playing its part in providing
a structure and framework to promote good health and wellness. “At each
stage and step of the way, we must squarely answer the question: what is the
right thing to do?” he asked.
“What can you do?”
Prime Minister Davis stated that he trusted that each graduate already had a
vision for their career; that included how they help those who seeks their care.
“Apart from the personal, there is much that you can do to support national
development,” he said.
“For example: social media has done much to undermine confidence in some
established medical practices,” Prime Minister Davis added. He continued:
“For many decades in this country, we have taken vaccines against polio,
mumps, measles and so many of the viruses which killed millions of children
and young people before us. These immunizations were part of a worldwide
effort to wipe out the scourges that had afflicted generations. And yet the
immunization against the Covid19 virus, one of the great, collaborative efforts
of our time, is undermined by misinformation transmitted via voice notes and
YouTube videos.”
“You can play a critical role in helping to restore trust, to promote evidence
and reason,” Prime Minister Davis said.
He told the graduates that they could help their patients and the wider public
to understand the best way forward.
“This is a small, but pivotal example of the impact that you can have,” Prime
Minister Davis noted.
“In fact, you have already entered into partnership with the Bahamian people,”
he added. “Through the Government subventions which supported your
education, you have already agreed to give in terms of service to public
health.”
Prime Minister Davis told the graduates that he hoped that the satisfaction of
that obligation was not viewed as a chore, but as an opportunity to practice
their profession among and on behalf of their fellow countrymen.
“In so many ways, The Bahamas – and, indeed, the whole world – is in need of
healing,” he said. “By your oath and the symbolism of your white coat, I pray
that you bring your best selves to play your part in that effort.”
“Congratulations, and thank you.”

During his Official Remarks at the Oath Swearing andRobing Ceremony to Welcome the New Medical Graduates of the University ofThe West Indies School of Clinical Medicine and Research, on August 22, 2022,Prime Minister and Minister of Finance the Hon. Philip Davis noted that one ofthe best ways to ensure the good health and wellness of The Bahamas, was forthere to be productive partnership between the Government and members ofthe medical profession.

“Given the role that doctors play, it almost goes without saying that you mustbe at the forefront of that partnership,” Prime Minister Davis said to thegraduates, at the event held at Baha Mar Convention Centre.

“If ever we were ignorant before, through the experiences of the pandemicand Hurricane Dorian, none of us can be in any doubt as to the valuable rolesyou play in securing the health of our people,” he added.

Among those present at the ceremony were Minister of Education andTechnical & Vocational Training the Hon. Glenys Hanna Martin; Minister ofHealth and Wellness, the Hon. Dr. Michael Darville; former Prime MinisterMost Hon. Dr. Hubert Minnis; and Parliamentary Secretary in the Office of thePrime Minister Leon Lundy.

Prime Minister Davis said that The Bahamas should “never tire of saying‘thank-you’ for all that doctors have done, and continue to do, to help ourpeople.”

“But we know that doing so has taken a terrible toll on members of yourprofession,” he noted.

“We understand how doctors gave and sacrificed, through the bouts ofrepeated COVID infection, the overwhelm and near collapse of our healthcaresystem, the stress and mental burnout of long hours and limited resources, notto mention the long absences from loved ones,” Prime Minister Davis added.

He continued: “We also understood how, during the height of it, many feltunder-valued and under-paid. This was why, as a matter of fundamentalprinciple, one of the first acts of my administration was to resolve the issue ofoutstanding pay, which soured relations between the Government anddoctors. I appreciate that many have been left feeling uncertain anddemoralized, unsure that the Government will fully play its part in thepartnership.

“As long as I am charged with the leadership of the country, you have my wordthat we will.”

Prime Minister Davis said that all people were truly at an inflection point inhistory, not just here in The Bahamas, but around the world.

Environmental, economic and political upheavals have challenged, and arechanging the old way of doing things, he said.

“We cannot carry on as before,” Prime Minister Davis said. “For too long wehave spoken of change – now is the time to act.”

“We have already set in motion some of our plans to implement some bigchanges in health and wellness,” he added. “But first we need to get to gripswith the basics.”

Prime Minister Davis pointed out that that even though they were basic, theystill required substantial investment.

“For example, we are already investing in two new, state-of-the-art hospitals inGrand Bahama and New Providence,” he said. “This is a major step forward inupgrading the infrastructure of our healthcare.”

“We have also expanded the provision of specialist Family Medical doctors, sothat we are well on track to ensure that every Government clinic has one,including those in the Family Islands,” Prime Minister Davis added.“And we are also continuing to move towards the provision of universal healthcoverage.

This is a foundational change in the way Bahamians can access healthcareservices.”

Prime Minister Davis pointed out to the graduates that those “excitingdevelopments were happening at that time, at the beginning of their careers.“You have the opportunity to be a part of it, to help guide and shape thefuture, such that healthcare in The Bahamas can form part of each of yourpersonal legacies,” he said.

Prime Minister Davis said that the Government was playing its part in providinga structure and framework to promote good health and wellness. “At eachstage and step of the way, we must squarely answer the question: what is theright thing to do?” he asked.

“What can you do?”

Prime Minister Davis stated that he trusted that each graduate already had avision for their career; that included how they help those who seeks their care.“Apart from the personal, there is much that you can do to support nationaldevelopment,” he said.

“For example: social media has done much to undermine confidence in someestablished medical practices,” Prime Minister Davis added. He continued:“For many decades in this country, we have taken vaccines against polio,mumps, measles and so many of the viruses which killed millions of childrenand young people before us. These immunizations were part of a worldwideeffort to wipe out the scourges that had afflicted generations. And yet theimmunization against the Covid19 virus, one of the great, collaborative effortsof our time, is undermined by misinformation transmitted via voice notes andYouTube videos.”

“You can play a critical role in helping to restore trust, to promote evidenceand reason,” Prime Minister Davis said.

He told the graduates that they could help their patients and the wider publicto understand the best way forward.

“This is a small, but pivotal example of the impact that you can have,” PrimeMinister Davis noted.

“In fact, you have already entered into partnership with the Bahamian people,”he added. “Through the Government subventions which supported youreducation, you have already agreed to give in terms of service to publichealth.”

Prime Minister Davis told the graduates that he hoped that the satisfaction ofthat obligation was not viewed as a chore, but as an opportunity to practicetheir profession among and on behalf of their fellow countrymen.

“In so many ways, The Bahamas – and, indeed, the whole world – is in need ofhealing,” he said. “By your oath and the symbolism of your white coat, I praythat you bring your best selves to play your part in that effort.”

“Congratulations, and thank you.”

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