FNM leader Michael Pintard. Photo: Dante Carrer/Tribune Staff
By JADE RUSSELL
Tribune Staff Reporter
jrussell@tribunemedia.net
FNM Leader Michael Pintard has accused the government of celebrating a nearly $40m fiscal surplus while patients allegedly die from shortages of essential supplies at public hospitals.
Mr Pintard made the allegations in Parliament on Wednesday as the Davis administration highlighted a $39.3m surplus for the 2025/2026 fiscal year, describing it as the first recorded since the country gained independence.
He said it would be tragic for the government to boast about its financial achievements while people were dying in public hospitals because of a lack of supplies.
Health and Wellness Minister Dr Michael Darville challenged Mr Pintard’s claims, describing them as misleading and inaccurate. He urged the opposition leader to exercise caution when making allegations without providing evidence. Mr Darville said: “It is detrimental to our healthcare system. It not only affects your constituents, it affects the entire island of Grand Bahama. It's okay to stand to your feet and say there are some shortages, but to say people are dying as a result of shortages is going a bit too far,” Dr Darville said.
Dr Darville said he had a responsibility to defend the public healthcare system.
However, Mr Pintard argued that the deteriorating state of healthcare was not a political issue. He recalled constituents approaching him in tears over difficulties they faced when seeking medical care.
“Some of the tragedies you are dealing with on a daily basis are a result of scarcity. In some cases, operations have been put off over and over again because the facilities are not in the state for operations to take place,” Mr Pintard said.
He said shortages ranged from non-functioning air conditioning systems to inadequate resources for diagnostic procedures. He also alleged that patients were sometimes discharged before fully recovering because of a lack of bed space.
“I live in this community. I'm seeing it and experiencing it. I have lost relatives. All of us have had these tragedies,” Mr Pintard continued.
“This isn't a dig just on your government — your healthcare system cannot get to where it is unless this has spanned multiple administrations. But I'm just saying this is a part of it, and so I'm sensitive when someone talks about how we earn all this money. If you earn all this money, why aren't we helping the people? That's what the issue is.”
Members of the public have long complained about conditions at PMH and Rand Memorial Hospital, with some patients reporting waiting hours or even days to see a doctor. Others have been treated in hospital corridors as wards reached capacity.
In February, Consultant Physicians Staff Association president Dr Charelle Lockhart said PMH was in the worst condition she had seen in her 22 years in public practice.
She said the healthcare system was struggling with chronic shortages of staff, equipment and supplies, making it increasingly important for people to take responsibility for their health.
Dr Lockhart, a paediatrician, said conditions had steadily deteriorated despite capital investments at PMH, including the construction of a paediatric unit and the Accident and Emergency Department. She said those facilities remained inadequately equipped and understaffed, limiting their effectiveness.
“It is worse than I’ve ever seen,” she said. “I’ve been in the public hospital for the last 22 years.”
In March, Bahamas Nurses Union president Muriel Lightbourn also said PMH was in the worst condition she had seen in more than 40 years as a nurse.