Minister of Health and Wellness, the Hon. Dr. Michael Darville proposes measures aimed at changing the way healthcare is approached, through prevention, and promoting healthy lifestyles for all Bahamians.

He tabled in The Health Promotion and Wellness Bill, 2025 in the House of Assembly on Wednesday, March 26, 2025. “With the laying and passing of this piece of legislation it will represent a historic moment for the health and wellness of Bahamians everywhere.

“It is essential that we remain focused on the Bill’s provisions and how it would be used as a tool to improve the quality of life for all Bahamians,” said Dr. Darville.

The primary focus of the Bill is to promote health, improve quality of life, and enhance the well-being of all Bahamians through a framework that includes robust health regulation, behaviour change interventions, and dedicated national health promotion strategies.

Specific objectives of the Health Promotion and Wellness Bill are to:

• Promote healthier lifestyles across all age groups, encouraging both physical activity and improved nutrition;
• Strengthen synergies among government agencies to ensure food and nutrition security is maintained and improved;
• Reduce the incidence of chronic non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and prevent premature deaths related to excessive and sustained consumption of food products that are of public health concern and;
• To implement global and regional health policies that will support our national health promotion and reduction of NCDs.

Dr. Darville pointed out that chronic NCDs such as diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular disease and kidney failure are crippling the country’s healthcare system.

“Studies after studies confirm that habits formed during childhood often continue into adolescence and then into adulthood,” he said.

National data shows that 40 percent of teenagers and 71.6 percent of adults are overweight.

“That is why this administration is not shying away from the bold actions needed to safeguard our children and the next generation,” Dr. Darville said adding that, “too much is at stake and as a government we must address this public health issue head on.”

Further underscoring the importance of the proposed measure, Dr. Darville emphasized that it comes at a crucial time, with the recent announcement by the Ministry of Finance of a five percent VAT reduction on unprepared foods, along with upgrades to healthcare facilities across the country.

“Together, these initiatives signal the commitment by this Davis-led administration to making healthier food choices more accessible and affordable; while also providing the public with the tools they need to make informed decisions about their health and nutrition,” he said.

Part II of the Bill provides for the creation of a Health Promotion and Wellness Plan and the adoption of specific public health policies designed to drive our national health and wellness agenda.

And, Part III outlines the establishment and role of the National Food and Nutrition Commission, which will be responsible for implementing a national nutrition surveillance system and advocating for best practices in food and nutrition.

To ensure the effective implementation of these measures, he revealed that his ministry, in consultation with relevant ministries, will have the authority to coordinate policy development across various portfolios.

“This Health-In-All Policies approach is designed to eliminate silos between ministries and ensure a coordinated government response to the challenges of chronic disease and lifestyle-related health issues.

“Our commitment to this approach will include actively monitoring the foods coming into our country, particularly for any ingredients that may be carcinogenic or contribute to cardiovascular disease and premature death,” said Dr. Darville.

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