The Minister of Health and Wellness the Hon. Dr. Michael Darville said the Ministry of Health and Wellness is on a journey to improve quality healthcare services for every single citizen in the Commonwealth of The Bahamas.
“Coming out of the COVID-19 pandemic the challenges that existed at our tertiary healthcare services became gaping holes,” Dr. Darville said at the University of the West Indies School of Clinical Medicine and Research, The Bahamas in Collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Wellness - 'Oath Swearing and Awards Ceremony for the Graduating Class of 2023' of new doctors at Baha Mar on Monday, July 24, 2023.
He added thar as the Health Minister he would be disingenuous if he tried to paint a cozy picture of the hospitals and clinics.
The Health Minister explained that these facilities are going through a “metamorphosis” to improve the infrastructure for the doctors to have a comfortable place to work in and for residents to have safe, well-stocked and well-oiled facilities to receive essential services.
“We are now working diligently in all of our primary healthcare facilities to ensure the residents in the far-flung islands in the Commonwealth of The Bahamas have the same access to quality services that we enjoy here in Nassau and Grand Bahama.”
Dr. Darville also noted that there is a global shortage of healthcare workers around the world and there is massive manifestation of these shortages in The Bahamas. “While we spend large sums of money training Bahamian healthcare professionals, countries to the north are constantly recruiting here in the Commonwealth of The Bahamas some of the best of the trained individuals that were put in place as a direct result of Bahamian taxpayers.”
He added, “While this is happening, many of us who are responsible for ensuring that the services are provided are trying to fill these gaps in The Bahamas to ensure that Bahamians are able to receive these essential services.”
The Health Minister said in 2016, the government launched National Health Insurance.
“We launched it crawling on our bellies but it was launched, and today we can boast of some 150,000 individuals who are a part of our National Health Insurance Program aimed at delivering quality primary healthcare services throughout our archipelago.”
He said in October 2022, he tabled an important piece of Legislation to repeal and replace the current National Health Insurance Act to bring it to the next level.
He told the 39 graduates that they have come at the right time. “We are waiting for you all at the hospital; we need you all. So, as you put on your white coat today and as they drape you with your stethoscope, get ready because tomorrow we are waiting for you.”
Minister of Education, the Hon. Glenys Hanna-Martin brought short remarks congratulating the new doctors; and Dr. Maureen Samms-Vaughan, Professor, Child Health, Child Development and Behaviour, Emeritus, UWI brought the keynote address.
Dr. Kalere Edgecombe received the Dr. Cecil M. Bethel Award for Most Outstanding Student in The Bahamas Class of 2023 and Dr. Hannah Thompson received the Dr. Anthony Regis Award for Most Outstanding Student in the final MBBS Examinations.
The new doctors and their guests were treated to a surprise Junkanoo Rush-out at the end of the ceremony.
