Minister of Health and Wellness, the Hon. Dr. Michael Darville spoke with reporters following the first Cabinet meeting of this term held at the Office of the Prime Minister.
Darville told reporters that this year his ministry’s budget will focus on human resources. He said, “our budget priorities is always manpower resources to make sure that we have the staff necessary to provide the services. And of course, we are constructing two hospitals and we’re about now to execute major repairs at the Princess Margaret Hospital. All of this will be in our capital works except for what will be at the Ministry of Health’s budget where we would be able to find more resources for PHA so that we can execute more realistic and more well organized and we structured programs.”
The minister also responded to criticism from Bahamas Nurses Union President, Muriel Lightbourn who spoke out against his reappointment as health minister. Darville said, “I understand exactly what that means and so my job is basically again now to execute our new vision. In term of repairs, most of the challenges that the ministry face is from the Princess Margaret Hospital. It’s an aging structure. Funding is now allocated to execute many of the necessary repairs and the residents and patience will begin to see major changes taking place at the Princess Margaret Hospital.”
Plans are in the works to expand the National Health Insurance (NHI) program this budget year. Dr. Darville said, “if you look at what we’re doing with NHI and the bills that we laid in the House of Parliament in our last term in office you’ll see that we’re restructuring NHI and finding a more sustainable economic plan to provide the resources to pay our providers and doctors in a timely fashion.”
The 2026-2027 budget communication will be read in the House of Assembly on Wednesday, May 27th.
