Dr Duane Sands: “Health is on the Back Burner When It Comes to This Administration.”

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NASSAU, BAHAMAS – For more than 15 years, former Minster of Health, Dr. Duane Sands performed dialysis access surgery for patients at Rand Memorial Hospital in Grand Bahama.

However after his resignation earlier this year ahead of the 2026 General Election, patients are still left waiting.

Dr. Duane Sands – Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgeon

“This is not just something that is done by anybody, and it actually is a subspecialty of surgery. So at this time there is no vascular surgeon that is servicing those patients.”

Dr. Sands warns that without proper access, patients can develop complications that may prevent them from receiving dialysis.

With some patients being referred to New Providence, he says the problem could be even greater if services in the capital become overwhelmed.

Dr. Duane Sands – Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgeon

“It creates challenges with occlusion, inability to be dialyzed, et cetera. And sometimes those complications can be very, very serious, if not deadly.”

“The problem is even more complicated than that because I am advised that as of today, Princess Margaret Hospital has either been low or out of the necessary grafts or devices for creation of permanent access.”

The Ministry of Health says it is working to restore the service locally, with Health Minister Michael Darville expecting a vascular surgeon to be in Grand Bahama before the end of the month.

However, Dr. Sands says the situation requires immediate action.

He says the lack of access to dialysis treatment is just one sign of what he describes as a broader decline in healthcare services on Grand Bahama.

Dr. Duane Sands – Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgeon

“It is obvious that health is on the back burner when it comes to this administration.”