Vision
Optimal health and well-being of all residents.
Mission "To ensure that the highest quality of services for health promotion, health protection and healthcare are accessible to all residents of The Bahamas in order to achieve optimal health."
The Ministry of Health seeks to provide the leadership necessary to ensure and guard the protection and promotion of the health of all residents. It provides all residents with access to comprehensive, preventive, quality healthcare services and care.
Overview
The Bahamas supports an extensive health infrastructure that provides care through a system of public hospitals and community health clinics, private hospitals, physician offices and in the home. An estimated 85% of the population receives healthcare through the public health system, for all their health service needs or in conjunction with private care.
The Ministry of Health provides leadership to develop health policy nationwide, enforce health regulations, promote disease prevention and enhance healthy living. It works closely with all government agencies and health stakeholders to reduce health and safety risks to residents, thereby managing the overall national healthcare services system.
The Ministry of Health is headed by a Minister of Health, the Honourable Dr. Hubert Minnis, M.P., who conveys the policies of the Government and acts as chief Health spokesperson. A Permanent Secretary, Camille Johnson, manages the administrative portfolio, while a Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Merceline Dahl-Regis advises both the Minister and the Permanent Secretary on technical, health matters.
The Ministry of Health seeks to protect the health of Bahamian residents against both current and emerging health threats. This is achieved, in part, by: helping individuals acquire the skills to live responsible, healthy and independent lives; providing a range of accessible, affordable services that assist individuals, families and communities to reach their full health potential; and monitoring both current and emerging disease threats.
The Ministry operates from a social model of health, whereby improvements in health and well-being are achieved by directing efforts towards addressing the social and environmental determinants of health, among others. The delivery of healthcare in The Bahamas is integrated and co-ordinated around the needs of residents, rather than service types, professional boundaries or organisational structure.
Such a comprehensive population health approach emphasises positive health activities and illness prevention measures. The results are both long-term benefits for all residents and reduced pressures on the healthcare system.
The healthcare structure of The Bahamas consists of 2 key components: the Ministry of Health and the Public Hospitals Authority (PHA). (A pivotal structural reform was the establishment of the Public Hospital Authority (PHA) on 1 July 1999, through an Act of Parliament.) PHA has responsibility for the 3 main public hospitals: Princess Margaret Hospital, Sandilands Rehabilitation Centre (both on New Providence) and the Rand Memorial Hospital (Grand Bahama). PHA is governed by a board that reports to the Minister.
The other main agency of the Ministry of Health offering preventive and curative healthcare services is the Department Of Public Health. The Ministry of Health’s Department of Public Health (DPH), under the guidance of a Director, Dr. Pearl McMillan, oversees the provision and management of primary healthcare services and the development and implementation of public health programmes. To ensure that healthcare is readily accessible to all communities, DPH manages Community Health Clinics throughout The Bahamas. These clinics all have medical, nursing and allied staff. A tiered system of polyclinics and satellite clinics is linked to more sophisticated tertiary care services at the Princess Margaret Hospital (PMH), and the Rand Memorial Hospital (RMH), on Grand Bahama, through phone consultation and referral services and a system of inter-island transportation. This model is able to extend both routine and emergency healthcare services to even the small and remote islands of our Commonwealth. This is in keeping with Government policy that all residents should have universal access to healthcare and essential social services.
The Director of Nursing, Marcel Johnson, a member of the technical directorate, directs and advises the Permanent Secretary on all nursing services.
 Developing the Healthcare System in The Bahamas
Prior to the 1990s, The Ministry of Health embarked on an initiative to improve the management of health services in the Family Islands through the introduction of a decentralised model of healthcare known as Local Health Systems.
In December 1999, a National Health Services Strategic Plan (NHSSP) was developed to provide strategic direction for health development in The Bahamas for 2000 – 2004. The plan identified clear and strategic objectives, including improving access, quality care, efficiency, equity, inter-sectoral collaboration, community participation, and partnerships with the private sector.
Legislation and regulations on the practice of health professionals and on the establishment of health facilities were also passed during this period.
The government works collaboratively with PAHO (Pan American Health Organization) and other stakeholders to strategise ways in which the National Healthcare System can be improved and ensure its sustainability. The following principles guide its continued development:
 People and Community
Service Delivery
Capability
Collaboration
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