Health in the Bahamas

Health standards have greatly improved throughout the Bahamas in recent years. New hospitals and healthcare facilities have opened in Nassau and Grand Bahama.

There are high levels of health and economic inequality and most of the population are unable to obtain private health insurance. Catastrophic spending on healthcare has bankrupted many patients and their families.

Diseases

Vaccination against diseases such as measles and diphtheria has lowered the infection and death rate among children. The infection rate of HIV/AIDS is quite high — in 2013, an estimated 500 people died from AIDS in the Bahamas.[1]

Rates of non-communicable diseases have risen to the point where treatment costs challenge the viability of the healthcare system.

Healthcare

Free care is only provided to legal residents.

The National Health Insurance program was established in 2017. 42,000 Bahamians, about 10% of the population, have enrolled. Membership is voluntary. The Out Islands are serviced by small government clinics.[2] There are 80 primary care providers, including 4 private labs which provides care across New Providence, Grand Bahama, Abaco and Exuma.

About 8% of GDP is spent on healthcare in 2018. The Bahamas is one of the least efficient nations in the world when it comes to value-based care, according to the National Health Insurance Authority.[3]

A tax on wages to fund National Health Insurance was proposed in 2018.[4]

In December 2017 there were 349 registered nurses and 98 clinically trained nurses in the Department of Public Health, 753 registered and 283 clinically trained nurses in the Public Hospitals Authority. 226 registered nurses were needed by the Department of Public Health and 302 by the Public Hospitals Authority.[5]

See also

List of hospitals in Bahamas

References
  1. "Healthcare in the Bahamas". InterNations. 2018. Retrieved 15 November 2018.
  2. "Health". Lonely Planet. 2018. Retrieved 15 November 2018.
  3. "National Health Insurance A Shared Responsibility" (PDF). NHI Bahamas. 2018. Retrieved 15 November 2018.
  4. "NHI consultation period with stakeholders extended". EyeWiness News. 15 November 2018. Retrieved 15 November 2018.
  5. "Bahamas needs 528 nurses". Nassau Guardian. 27 February 2018. Retrieved 5 December 2018.
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