The Strategic Plan of the Public Hospitals Authority(PHA) is aimed at bringing about better quality healthcare services to the public.

Andrew Edwards, chairman of the Board of Directors, revealed elements ofthe plan during a recent ‘Meet the Press’ session on the State of the PHA.

Mr. Edwards shared that the strategic plan, which encompasses wide-sweeping changes, is being developed in collaboration with KPMG Bahamas,under the theme: ‘Reimagine the PHA.’ A rollout of the plan for members ofthe press was held on Wednesday, September 28, 2022 at the PHA CorporateOffice.

“The PHA has undertaken a process of comprehensive review as we seek toformulate a strategic plan that maps the way forward for our organization andits mandate to provide quality care,” Mr. Edwards said. The plan includes thethree health care facilities under the PHA’s ambit: Princess Margaret Hospitaland Sandilands Rehabilitation Centre in New Providence, and the RandMemorial Hospital in Grand Bahama. The objective is to develop enhancedfacilities that can provide better services.

He noted that the Public Hospitals Authority has been plagued with agedfacilities, lack of personnel to meet the growing demands of the Bahamianpublic, and unexpected adverse circumstances that have delayed itsprogress, deterred its focus, and impacted its quality of service.

“As we all know, the global pandemic only further exposed our pre-existing challenges, limitations, and shortcomings,” he said.

Added Mr. Edwards, “Yet, despite all of this, we cannot ‘stop’ to make thenecessary changes. Rather, we must refresh, renew, and reimagine the PHAwhile still operating, still making the best of the resources available, andsaving lives.”

Among the initiatives is the Urgent and Emergency Care Project, to addressovercrowding of the Emergency Room at the Princess Margaret Hospital. Thisproject is a collaboration between the PHA and the Ministry of Health andWellness.

The project comprises three phases, Mr. Edwards said. The first phaseinclusive of the enabling works is complete. The PHA will enter into a contractover the next few weeks for the finish of Phase 2. With an overall budgetestimated at $20 million dollars, finalization is estimated within the next 24months.

With respect to emergency care and address of space and resourcechallenges -- Mr. Edwards said he was pleased to note that the PHA hasprocured a number of modular units that will expand the capacity to treatpatients at both the Princess Margaret Hospital and the Rand MemorialHospital. Enabling works for the units are underway at both hospitals.

He stated, however, that as the PHA improves its infrastructure and expandsavailable supplies and equipment, it must simultaneously address the continuinghuman resource shortages within the public health system.

“To that end, we have commenced the PHA Academy to ensure that allemployees receive the requisite training and that we develop in-house andnationally the expertise and skill sets which are needed to run a world-classhospital,” Mr. Edwards said.

He regarded PHA Academy as one of the most innovative and exciting newinitiatives being rolled out by the PHA team, with the support of the Ministry ofHealth & Wellness. The Academy will also provide credentials and certificationsvia a hybrid-learning model encompassing online and in-person training.

Currently, he noted, many persons residing in the Family Islands have tocome to Nassau to get routine, but potentially life-saving, servicesperformed. Thanks to the capacities of PHA Academy, “those services willsoon be available throughout The Bahamas,” Mr. Edwards said.