Minister of Health and Wellness, the Hon. Dr. Michael Darville addressed parliament Wednesday on the introduction of the National Health Insurance Specified Chronic Diseases Prescription Drug Fund Bill 2025.
Dr. Darville explained, “this new bill will help my ministry with integrating National Prescription Drug Plan into the National Health Insurance Authority. A bold a necessary step to ensure that every Bahamian can access affordable, high quality medications to treat chronic diseases. This crucial piece of legislation marks a significant step in our administration’s overall agenda to transform the lives of Bahamians by ensuring their fundamental right to health and longevity is preserved.”
The approximately 41,000 Bahamians on the National Prescription Drug Plan will migrate to the National Health Insurance Authority. According to the minister this move will provide a signal access point to life saving medications to treat chronic communicable diseases.
He said, “this also means better procurement practices, strategic partnerships and enhancing the use of digital health tools to track medicine compliance. It will finally align pharmaceutical procurement with broader government reform policies. The integration of these programs will manage to ensure the smooth transition with minimal disruption to current beneficiaries, providers and employees.”
The new legislation will repeal and replace the National Insurance Chronic Diseases Prescription Drug Fund Act.
