The Public Hospitals Authority (PHA), in partnership with the Ministry of Health & Wellness, officially broke ground today on the new multi-million-dollar Hospital. Located off the New Providence Highway, The Bahamas Hospital represents the cornerstone of a transformative national vision to modernize healthcare delivery across the archipelago.

The historic ceremony was attended by high-ranking government officials and international partners, led by Prime Minister the Hon. Philip Davis, KC, MP. Joining the Prime Minister were Her Excellency Yan Jiarong, Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to The Bahamas; the Hon. Dr. Michael Darville, Minister of Health & Wellness; Mr. Andrew Edwards, Chairman of the PHA Board of Directors; and Dr. Aubynette Rolle, Managing Director of the PHA. Also in attendance were representatives from the China Railway Construction Company, the primary partners in the project’s execution.

In his keynote address, Prime Minister Davis emphasized that the project transcends the construction of a single building, describing it as a necessary departure from a system designed for a previous era. “A modern country cannot depend indefinitely on a health system designed for another age,” the Prime Minister stated, noting that Princess Margaret Hospital, built in 1952, was designed for a significantly
smaller population and a different disease burden.

“Today’s groundbreaking speaks to the need for renewal. We are seeking to move the country from a system under constant pressure to one that is modern in design, fair in access, and stronger in prevention.” The Prime Minister outlined a comprehensive three-part strategy for the future of Bahamian healthcare, within which the New Providence Hospital plays a central role:

• Modern Infrastructure: Alongside the Freeport Health Campus in Grand Bahama, the new Bahamas Hospital will provide a stronger framework for triage, referral pathways, and efficient service delivery, offering a world-class environment for both patients and medical professionals.
• Early Intervention and Prevention: Moving beyond “managing pressure,” the government is launching a ten-year strategy to combat non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as diabetes, hypertension, and cancer through earlier community-based intervention and public education.
• Geographic Fairness and Access: Acknowledging the unique challenges of an archipelago, the
  Prime Minister committed to bringing care closer to home through telemedicine, mobile clinics, and upgraded Family Island facilities to ensure that proximity to Nassau does not dictate the quality of care.

The Prime Minister expressed profound gratitude to the Chinese Government for their essential
partnership in bringing this project to fruition. Minister of Health & Wellness, the Hon. Dr. Michael Darville, and PHA Managing Director Dr. Aubynette Rolle both highlighted that the new facility would be supported by the PHA Academy to ensure workforce development matches the new infrastructure. The Prime Minister also touched on critical social components of the reform, including expanded mental health support such as a 24-hour suicide prevention line and enhanced financial protections through National Health Insurance (NHI) and the Catastrophic Care Fund.

“At its core, health care is about the kind of country we are building,” Prime Minister Davis concluded. “A
healthier country is a stronger country. This is a chapter in which prevention stands alongside treatment, and where public policy reflects the lived reality of the Bahamian people.”

Construction is expected to commence immediately, following the successful renovation of 52 clinics
and the completion of five new clinics across the country under the current administration’s healthcare
mandate.

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