The Tribune

By EARYEL BOWLEG

Tribune Staff Reporter

ebowleg@tribunemedia.net

THE Bahamas and the University of the West Indies have signed a renewed agreement that could pave the way for a full four-year UWI medical programme in The Bahamas, a move Health Minister Dr Michael Darville said would strengthen the country’s healthcare workforce.

Dr Darville said officials have spent at least a year and a half discussing the proposal with UWI Mona Campus and the university’s senior executive team. He said the agreement includes plans for a feasibility study on establishing the programme locally as the government moves ahead with plans to construct two healthcare facilities.

“We approached UWI Mona Campus to look into the possibility of a four-year programme here in The Bahamas, and that is embedded in the agreement we signed today,” Dr Darville said. “So we will start the feasibility study surrounding that as we move to construct the two facilities.”

He added: “Yes, we want a full campus of the University of the West Indies School of Medicine in the Commonwealth of The Bahamas.”

The partnership between The Bahamas and UWI began in 1997 and was renewed in 2006. Dr Darville said the latest agreement modernises the arrangement and reflects the government’s commitment to expanding medical education and healthcare capacity.

“Today’s renewal reflects our administration’s continued commitment to investing in education, training and healthcare capacity,” he said. “It supports our goal of ensuring that Bahamians have access to well-trained, qualified healthcare professionals and that our healthcare system remains equipped to meet the needs of a growing, diverse population in an archipelagic nation.”

UWI Mona Campus Principal and Pro-Vice Chancellor Professor Densil Williams described the agreement as a major step toward expanding access to higher education and medical training in the region.

“We are pleased to enter into a partnership with the Government of The Bahamas to look at how we upgrade our existing engagement from a mere two-year programme to a full-fledged medical school over the coming years,” Professor Williams said. “That indeed minister will be a game changer in terms of access for medical education in The Bahamas and for that we at the UW are really proud and very happy to join in that feasibility study to see what is possible to bring us to that level.”

Dr Darville said the UWI School of Clinical Medicine has helped train doctors for the country’s healthcare system.

“The University of the West Indies School of Clinical Medicine is responsible for assisting the Government of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas to ensure that we have the trained medical personnel for a healthcare system that is not only in Nassau and Grand Bahama but throughout the archipelago,” he said.

He said 17 MBBS students and 17 Doctor of Medicine students were expected to graduate later that day, adding to the country’s healthcare workforce.