In a landmark public-private collaboration aimed at transforming healthcare access in The Bahamas, the Public Hospitals Authority (PHA) has completed a $29 million purchase of Doctors Hospital’s Harborside medical facility, marking a key milestone in the government’s national healthcare redevelopment strategy.
The deal adds 46 private inpatient beds to the country’s public healthcare system, and the multi-purpose site is designed to deliver a wide range of critical services, including urgent care, advanced diagnostic testing, full-service laboratory work, emergency dialysis, rehabilitation therapy, on-site pharmacy services, and clinical training for future healthcare professionals. A core goal of the acquisition is to ease overwhelming pressure on the emergency department of Princess Margaret Hospital (PMH), the nation’s main public tertiary care facility, by diverting non-life-threatening urgent care patients to the new site.
Health and Wellness Minister Dr. Michael Darville told reporters following the official handover that the facility will begin operations as a dedicated urgent care center in the short term, with full integration into the PHA system scheduled after major renovations and the installation of new diagnostic and laboratory infrastructure. The initial upgrade work to ready the site for urgent care services carries an estimated price tag of $215,000, and the government has already awarded a contract for all necessary renovations to Inline Project Company. Construction work is on track to kick off as early as next week, according to official timelines.
“We purchased this property from Doctors Hospital for approximately $29 million,” Darville confirmed. “We signed the contract with Inline Project Company today. Renovations and upgrades to a portion of the facility will align it with the long-term vision laid out by the Ministry of Health and Wellness and the Public Hospitals Authority.”
Once fully operational, the site will not only expand service access for residents but also create new training opportunities for nurses, physicians, and allied healthcare workers across The Bahamas, addressing a critical gap in clinical professional development.
PMH Managing Director Aubynette Rolle emphasized that diverting urgent care patients away from PMH’s overstretched emergency department will allow the hospital’s care teams to treat patients with life-threatening conditions more efficiently and reduce wait times for all patients. She framed the acquisition as clear evidence of the national government’s commitment to upgrading public healthcare infrastructure and ensuring all facilities can deliver safe, high-quality patient care. The official handover ceremony to transfer ownership of the facility from Doctors Hospital to PHA was held on Wednesday.
Darville noted that the Harborside purchase is one component of a broader government initiative to redevelop the national healthcare system, which includes plans to build new hospitals and community clinics, as well as upgrade aging infrastructure at existing public facilities. The new site will directly help address long-standing operational challenges at PMH, he added, while serving as a model for how strategic public-private partnerships can rapidly expand national healthcare capacity.
Charles Diggis, chief executive officer of Doctors Hospital, noted that the transfer extends a decades-long collaborative relationship between the private hospital network and the Bahamian government. Discussions around the Harborside property first began more than 10 years ago, and Doctors Hospital purchased the site in 2017 with the goal of expanding regional healthcare access. Transferring ownership to PHA, Diggis explained, reflects the private hospital’s long-standing commitment to working alongside government to expand affordable, accessible healthcare for all Bahamian residents.
Diggis reaffirmed Doctors Hospital’s commitment to supporting future healthcare development and innovation across the country, emphasizing that coordinated public-private cooperation is an essential tool for improving health outcomes and service access for the Bahamian public. A full opening for all services at the redeveloped Harborside facility is expected once all renovations and upgrades are finalized.