By DENISE MAYCOCK

Tribune Freeport Reporter

dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

MINISTER for Grand Bahama Dr Michael Darville announced that a state-of-the-art hospital is expected to be completed in Grand Bahama by early 2017.

Dr Darville made the announcement on Thursday at the STEMSO 2014 Conference, which is being held in Freeport at the Grand Lucaya Resort.

A number of leading medical professionals and scientists from around the world are attending the three-day conference on adult stem cell treatment for a wide range of chronic illnesses and injuries.

During his welcome remarks, Minister Darville said the government of the Bahamas was fully committed to the construction of a new hospital on a 70-acre greenfield site in Freeport.

Although he said the facility would be built through a public-private partnership model, he did not disclose any details about who the private investor partners were.

“We intend to improve our present medical infrastructure and current medical services in order to efficiently cater to the medical needs of locals and medical tourists alike on the island of Grand Bahama,” Dr Darville said.

Last April, Darville had indicated that research was being done on a proposed 150-bed hospital for Grand Bahama.

He said the new hospital would be able to meet the demands of both public and private patient care as there was an issue of bed space at the Rand Memorial Hospital, which could not adequately meet the growing demand of healthcare.

Minister Darville had also indicated at the time that there would be a private wing at the new hospital.

“Our research here on GB clearly indicates that there are residents who want to use the service, but (the Rand) does not have private capability. As a result of that, potential business that can stay on the island goes off the island.”

Dr Darville had said that specialty and sub-specialty physicians are looking forward to the day when there is private bed space at the hospital so their patients can use its services.

The minister said government is also committed to stem cell research and therapy and has much to gain from the regularisation and implementation of stem cell research and treatment.

Opposition Leader Dr Hubert Minnis, believes that a 150-bed hospital in Grand Bahama is unrealistic and would cost hundreds of million of dollars to construct.

He predicted it would not come to fruition.