needs to fall to 13 cases per 100,000 live births. In 2011 The Bahamas had 37 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births (an estimate from UN agencies/World Bank), indicating that this target is unlikely to be reached, especially given that there has been little notable reduction in the number of maternal deaths since 1990. Part of the goal also stipulates that 100 per cent of births must be attended by a skilled health professional. In the period 2007–12 this figure stood at 99 per cent, suggesting that the target has been virtually achieved. Finally, countries working towards the MDGs have been aiming for a reduction in the prevalence of HIV, malaria and other diseases, in line with MDG 6. The prevalence of HIV among people aged 15–49 in The Bahamas has fallen by a third since the 1990s, but remains significant. Levels of estimated incidences of TB have also seen a net reduction since 1990, although net mortality from TB, excluding cases comorbid with HIV, is slightly higher than it was in 1990, suggesting that this goal is unlikely to be met. For definitions, sources and explanations on the MDGs see page 314. Universal health coverage More than half of health care in The Bahamas (54 per cent) was paid for by patients or funded by other non-governmental entities – such as private insurers, charities or employers – in 2012. Total health expenditure constituted 7.5 per cent of GDP in 2012, of which 46 per cent (US$759 per capita) was covered by the government. In 2015 the government of The Bahamas announced plans to ensure that all Bahamians have access to affordable, efficient and quality health care. These plans began with the launching of an implementation strategy to ensure that all Bahamians have access to a Universal Health Insurance system. The Minister of Health, Dr Perry Gomez, said that ‘the mission of The Bahamas government is to provide quality health care that is affordable and accessible to all its citizens’. The ministry plans to have implement Universal Health Insurance by January 2016. By this time every legal Bahamian resident, regardless of their financial means, will have access to health care from private and public doctors, clinics and hospitals. The Bahamas has signed and ratified the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, which includes ‘the right of T h e B a h ama s everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health’. The covenant commits signees to providing healthy and hygienic environmental conditions, controlling epidemic diseases, improving child health and facilitating access to health services without discrimination. Care of the elderly: Around 29,000 people in The Bahamas are over the age of 65 – eight per cent of the total population (2013). At the age of 60 a person living in The Bahamas can be expected to live for an additional 22 years on average. There are extensive measures in place in The Bahamas for the care of the elderly community; the Ministry of Health administers community nursing, wherein geriatric nurses conduct monthly visits to elderly Bahamians, and provide counselling and referral services. Home visitations services are provided by the government, with qualified nurses available to administer medication, change dressings and provide personal care for older patients in their homes. The Ministry of Health also provides resources such as wheelchairs, crutches and zimmer frames for older residents, in some cases for a small fee. Population over 65 The government has established a specialist elderly care hospital, the Geriatric Hospital, which provides full-time in-patient health care for elderly residents who cannot be cared for at home. The hospital has five wards, each with 24–26 beds. There are two gerontology clinics that cater specifically for the older community on the islands. The clinics are located in community health clinics in Anne’s Town and Fleming Street. There are five government-owned and 11 privately owned residential homes on the islands. Further information Ministry of Health: www.bahamas.gov.bs Commonwealth Health Online: www.commonwealthhealth.org/health/americas/bahamas_the Commonwealth Health Partnerships 2015 141 8%
Commonwealth Health Partnerships 2015
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