By NATARIO McKENZIE

Tribune Business Reporter

nmckenzie@tribunemedia.net

The “dramatic brain drain” in nursing has meant Bahamian healthcare’s human resources have not kept pace with public policy creation, a Cabinet minister is arguing.

Dr Duane Sands, during a recent presentation on public health policy at the University of The Bahamas, said: “How do we craft public health policy to consider this reality when we are seeing a dramatic brain drain in nursing?

“In 2018 there was a deficit of 528 registered nurses. There were 528 less nurses than we need to provide adequate services across the archipelago. That’s just the nurses. What we see is, as we are creating policy, our human resources have not kept pace.”

Besides the ever-growing need to recruit nurses and other allied health professionals, Dr Sands said The Bahamas’ healthcare needs were further complicated by the widespread prevalence of non-communicable diseases among Bahamians.

“As we craft policy and look at what is happening in terms of trends, bear in mind that 60 percent of Bahamians have three or more risk factors for non-communicable diseases,” he added.

“Almost six out of ten Bahamians have high blood pressure, and 80 percent of us are overweight or obese. Seventy-four percent of our deaths, which are almost a record in the world, are due to non-communicable diseases. Most of those deaths are premature. While the average Bahamians will live until they are 74 years, the last ten, I’m not sure they will enjoy it.”

Dr Sands confirmed that revisions to the list of breadbasket items will soon be forthcoming. “We have completed the recommendations for breadbasket revisions so that there will be fruit and vegetables, healthy grains cereals etc. That’s going to create a big fight with wholesalers and retailers but it will go over well with the public,” he said.