Govt. Breaks Ground on New $200M West New Providence Hospital

Advertisement

NASSAU , BAHAMAS – Ground broken, and with it, the start of what officials call a new era for healthcare in The Bahamas.

The $285 million project will sit on 50 acres on New Providence Highway and will see the construction of a modern 200-bed hospital, designed to ease pressure on existing facilities like Princess Margaret Hospital.

Health Minister Dr. Michael Darville says the need for expansion is long overdue.

Dr. Michael Darville – Minister, Health and Wellness

“This hospital will expand our national capacity for specialized care and much more. It will support better coordination of tertiary healthcare services across the country. It will reduce the need for patients to seek care abroad, and it will allow our healthcare professionals to operate in an environment that supports the level of care that they’re trained to deliver.”

The Free National Movement has strongly opposed the Davis administration’s plans for a new specialty hospital, labelling the project a “white elephant” and a “dumb idea.”

It has also been opposed by U.S. Ambassador Herschel Walker.

He warned against agreements subject to Chinese legal and labor frameworks, suggesting that they pose long-term implications for the nation.

The hospital is expected to be completed in 30 to 36 months and will include emergency and intensive care services, modern diagnostic labs, and even the country’s first national reference morgue.

It is supported by a $195 million concessional loan from the Export-Import Bank of China at 2% interest over 20 years.

Chinese Ambassador Yan Jiarong says the development represents a deepening of relations between both countries.

Yan Jiarong – Chinese Ambassador to The Bahamas

“We carried out careful legal, technical, and financial reviews. All procedures were professional and in line with international standards. The Health Corporation has long been a cornerstone of our partnership.”

Prime Minister Philip Davis took a broader view, by saying that the hospital is just one part of a larger plan to transform the country’s healthcare system.

He said the focus must shift from just managing illness to preventing it.

Philip Davis – Prime Minister

“The next step in healthcare cannot be confined to construction alone. It must be rooted in a practical national philosophy, in a good health system where people stay healthy for longer, respond properly when illness comes, and are saved from being broken financially by a diagnosis. That is the direction the Progressive Liberal Party government will pursue.”