Gov’t To Sign HOA With Chinese EXIM Bank For New Specialty Hospital

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NASSAU, BAHAMAS – The Davis administration is preparing to sign a long-awaited Heads of Agreement with the Chinese EXIM Bank next week, marking the final step before construction begins on the country’s newest major healthcare facility, according to Health Minister Dr. Michael Darville.

Speaking on the sidelines of the Public Hospitals Authority Academy’s graduation ceremony on Friday, Dr. Darville said the government is ready to move forward with the $300 million, 200-bed specialty hospital planned for western New Providence, between Saunders Beach and the six-legged roundabout.

“With the grace of God, we’ll have it signed by next week Friday,” he said.
“Very soon you’ll begin to see tractors preparing the site to make way for the contractor to start work on the new specialty hospital.”

The project has faced ongoing concerns surrounding environmental impact and funding since it was first announced. The EXIM Bank agreement is expected to finalize those financing details.

Updates on Princess Margaret Hospital’s New A&E Wing

Questions still remain about the status of the existing Princess Margaret Hospital, particularly its new Accident & Emergency wing. Since the ribbon-cutting last December, the facility has experienced a series of setbacks, from incomplete construction to missing infrastructure components, including parts necessary for the air-conditioning system.

Despite this, Public Hospitals Authority Director Dr. Aubynette Rolle says patient movement into the new space has already begun.

“On November 10, we did a partial move,” she explained.
“We relocated acute patients, observation, cardiology, those areas. It worked out well. Over the next few weeks, we expect to move more, but no healthcare facility can move an entire emergency room all at once.”

Freeport Health Campus Construction Ramping Up

Health officials also provided an update on the new Freeport Health Campus. Construction had slowed earlier this year while funding tied to a CIBC loan agreement was being processed. But Dr. Darville says progress is now accelerating.

“Once the loan was cleared and cash was dispersed, the contractor got into full swing,” he said.
“We should have around 125 construction workers on site, moving rapidly to close infrastructure, put the EPICO in place, and pour the ceiling.”

As the country’s major healthcare developments finally push forward, officials say these projects will significantly expand national capacity and modernize critical services across both New Providence and Grand Bahama.