Ministry of Health and Social Development

242 - 322-7425
242 - 328-8389
322-7788

Victoria Gardens
P. O. Box N 3729 or N 3730
Nassau, N.P., The Bahamas

    Areas of Responsibilities
    Environmental Health Services, Department of
    Social Development, Department of
    Rehabilitative Services, Department of
    Bureau of Women's Affair


MISSION STATEMENT

“TO ENSURE THAT THE HIGHEST QUALITY OF SERVICES FOR HEALTH PROMOTION PROTECTION AND CARE ARE ACCESSIBLE TO ALL PERSONS OF THE BAHAMAS IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE OPTIMAL HEALTH”.

The Health Care Structure of The Bahamas consists of two components:
The first is the Ministry of Health and its agencies, including the Departments of Public Health and the Environmental Health Services;
Second is the Public Hospitals Authority and its agencies - the Princess Margaret Hospital, Sandilands Rehabilitation Centre and the Grand Bahama Health Services (including the Rand Memorial Hospital).

The Ministry of Health is the organization which is responsible for the promotion and maintenance of national health, and the prevention and control of diseases in The Bahamas.

The Ministry of Health has direct responsibility for:
  • National Health Policy and Planning,
  • Health Services Regulation (Private and Public Sectors),
  • Public Sector Services funding.

    The Ministry is headed by the Minister of Health, (Senator the Honourable Dr. Marcus Bethel). The Permanent Secretary (Mrs. Elma Garraway), manages the general administration, and the technical head is the Chief Medical Officer (Dr. Merceline Dahl- Regis) with the Director of Nursing (Miss Mary Johnson), a member of the technical directorate.

    Advisory, technical and administrative support units of the Ministry of Health's Headquarters are:
    · The National Drug Council
    ·     The AIDS Secretariat
    · Health Education Division
    · Accounts Section
    · Human Resource Section
    · Licensing and Regulatory Bodies include
    · The Bahamas Nursing Council,
    · The Bahamas Medical Council,
    · The Bahamas Dental Council,
    · The Health Professions Council,
    · and the Hospitals and Health Care Facilities Licensing Board.

    Overview Of Sections

    The Commonwealth Of The Bahamas Is An Archipelagic Nation Extending From The Coast Of Florida To The Islands Of Hispanola And Cuba. It Has A Population Of Approximately 298,000 People Residing On More Than Twenty-Nine Of The Islands And Cays Comprising The Country. Th Principal Urban Centre, Nassau, Is Located On New Providence And Has More Than Two Thirds Of The Population. Freeport, The Second Major Urban Centre Which Is Located On Grand Bahama, Is Highly Industrialized. Other Islands Of The Bahamas Are Referred To As Family Islands.

    Most Of The Health Care Facilities Are Located Close To Communities And Residents Have Universal Access To Health Care Within Public Health Care Facilities. Prior To The 1090s’ The Ministry Of Health Embarked On An Initiative To Improve Management Of The Health Services In Family Islands Through The Introduction Of A Decentralized Model Of Health Care Known As Local Health Systems. This Was Augmented By The Implementation Of Local Government During 1996/97 Throughout The Family Islands And Grand Bahama.

    The Ministry Of Health Has Responsibility For The National Health Policy And Planning, Health Services Regulation And Monitoring And Overall Management Of The Health Care Services System. Presently, There Are Two Major Agencies Offering Preventive And Curative Health Care Services Within The Public System, The Public Hospitals Authority And Department Of Public Health.

    Under The Auspices Of The Ministry Of Health, There Are Other Agencies Including The Department Of Environmental Health Services, Public Analyst Laboratory, Health Education Division, Health Information And Research Unit, Bahamas National Drug Agency, National Drug Council And Aids Secretariat.

    The Public Hospitals Authority (Pha) Has Responsibility For Three Public Hospitals. Princess Margaret Hospital, The Principal Secondary And Tertiary Health Care Facility And Sandilands Rehabilitation Centre (Src), The Psychiatric/Mental And Geriatric Institution Offering Psychiatric, Rehabilitative And Geriatric Care Based In New Providence. The Third Hospital, Rand Memorial Hospital, A Smaller Health Facility For In-Patient And Outpatient Care Is Based In Grand Bahama.

    The Public Hospitals Authority (Pha) Assumed Responsibility For The Institutions On July 1, 1999 Following The Passage Of An Act Through Parliament In 1998. The Ensure That Health Care Is Readily Accessible To The Public, The Ministry Of Health Also Manages Community Health Care Facilities Throughout The Bahamas, Eight Of Which Are Located In New Providence. These Facilities Have Medical, Nursing And Allied Staff Even In Remote Communities.

    The Department Of Public Health (Dph), Under The Guidance Of A Director, Who Chairs The Executive Management Team, Has Responsibility For The Prevention And Control Of Communicable And Non-Communicable Diseases And Other Service Components Such As Maternal And Child Health Programmes And Primary Health Care.

    The Department Of Environmental Health Services (Dehs) Has A Responsibility To Promote Human Health Through The Monitoring And Control Of Environmental Factors Which May Adversely Affect Health. Priority Areas Of Concern Include Food And Water Sanitation, Solid Waste Management, Vector And Rodent Control, Monitoring Of Marine And Terrestrial Environment And Management Of Public Spaces, Including Beaches And Parks.