A Sustainable Public Healthcare and Homecare System
A single-tier universal public healthcare system must be accessible to all. I believe that healthcare services are a human right. This means that everyone, rich or poor, young or old should have fair access to a decent public health service. Healthcare should depend on what we need, not on what insurance we have or not, how much we earn, who we know, or where we live.
The next Member of Parliament for MICAL should seek to achieve the following:
MICAL’s Path forward>>
Support public debate which consults all relevant stakeholders, including patients’ representatives, public representatives, and health professionals regarding the restructuring and expansion of the single-tiered healthcare system called NHI.
Support integrated planning and policy objectives within the healthcare system, covering primary, secondary, and tertiary care. Developing an Integrated reporting structure that covers both the public and private healthcare providers.
Support efforts to ensure that funding for healthcare reflects the principles of transparency and accountability.
Prioritize health prevention & promotion programs through public-private partnerships to encourage a healthier population and maximize existing resources.
Upgrades of Public Clinics and Morgues throughout the constituency.
The construction of a state-of-the-art Medical center (mini hospitals) in Inagua and Crooked Island. Which will provide superior health care services to the southern regions of the Bahamas.
The establishment of the Bahamas Centre for Disease Control & Prevention (BCDCP). The BCDCP is the nation's health protection agency, BCDCP saves lives and protects people from health, safety, and security threats. The leading national public health institute of the Bahamas with testing and quarantine facilities. The BCDCP is a Central Government agency, under the Ministry of Health and in conjunction with the Department of Environmental Health and Human Services.
The expansion and technology upgrades in all clinics by digitizing paper records and computer filing of electronic medical records.
Adopt a community-based approach allowing us to grow old and to die with dignity in our own communities, supporting active retirement and hospice outreach.
Ensure financial and professional support services for homecare that allow persons to live safely in their home who is aging and needs assistance to live independently; is managing chronic health issues; is recovering from a medical setback, or has special needs or a disability.
Develop and introduce a ‘healthy communities’ meals policy throughout the constituency.
To ensure that the most cost-effective medications are used and are readily available, simultaneously exploring natural alternative medicines to combat and reverse chronic and other diseases.
Ensure that adequate support services for mental health are put in place as part of all primary care teams Initiating cross-departmental action on mental health, bringing together departments with responsibility for social inclusion, disability, employment, and education.
“The health of a nation is the strength of a nation, and the strength of a nation is the wealth of a nation” – Andy Hanna.
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The Path Forward is a 20-year Development plan designed to generate economic growth and to develop sustainable economies in Mayaguna, Inagua, Crooked Island, Acklins, and Long Cay (MICAL). The ideas, initiatives, and programs mentioned in this document were originally written as a guide mapping out an economic development path forward for the southern islands of the Bahamas.
By Andy Hanna.