Press Release
Minister of Health & Wellness, the Honourable Dr. Michael R. Darville, Minister of State for Health & Wellness, the Honourable Owen Wells, Chief Medical Officer Dr. Pearl McMillan, and members of the Office of the Chief Medical Officer met with Prime Minister the Honourable Philip Davis on Wednesday, July 22, 2026, to provide an update on The Bahamas’ implementation of the International Health Regulations (IHR) Amendments.
During the meeting, health officials discussed the proposed establishment of a National IHR Authority within the Office of the Prime Minister. Consistent with recommendations from the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), the Authority would coordinate a whole-ofgovernment response during public health emergencies by facilitating timely collaboration among government ministries, the Disaster Risk Management Authority, border agencies, emergency services and other national partners. The Ministry of Health & Wellness would continue to serve as the country’s technical authority on public health matters.
The meeting formed part of ongoing efforts to strengthen national preparedness and ensure The Bahamas has the systems, partnerships and coordination mechanisms needed to protect residents and visitors from emerging public health threats.
The International Health Regulations provide the global framework through which countries work together to prevent, detect and respond to public health threats that may spread across borders. The amendments, developed following lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic and other international health emergencies, are designed to strengthen countries’ ability to identify health threats early, share critical information, coordinate resources and respond quickly to outbreaks and other public health emergencies.
