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Sands warns of danger despite precautions as students set to return

AS the deadly coronavirus continues to infect people worldwide, Minister of Health Dr Sands told Parliament yesterday that “concern regarding the further spread” of the virus to Bahamian shores “is a reality”.

China virus monitoring stepped up

LOCAL health officials have heightened surveillance for a new coronavirus, a deadly respiratory infection, that has spread from China to the United States.

Doctors still waiting for overdue payment

JUNIOR doctors have not yet been given their promised $1,400 lump sum, Health Minister Dr Duane Sands said yesterday.“This is all about the movement of cash back and forth and the issues of messaging between finance (officials) and PHA (Public Hospit

Sands confirms commitment to vaccinations

HEALTH Minister Dr Duane Sands reiterated the government’s commitment to ensuring that the vaccinations brought into the country are safe and properly administered by the country’s medical professionals. “The vaccines that we bring into the country

Sugary drinks ban for all schools

A SUGARY drinks ban at government healthcare facilities and public schools will come into effect on December 1, according to Health Minister Dr Duane Sands. “People are killing themselves,” Dr Sands said bluntly of the rationale behind the ban yesterday.

One in seven suffering from diabetes in the Bahamas

WITH one in seven of the population suffering from diabetes, Health Minister Dr Duane Sands is urging Bahamians to make more healthy lifestyle choices to prevent getting the disease.

$20m repair bill for Rand and Marsh Harbour Clinic

WITH cost of repairs to the Rand Memorial Hospital and Marsh Harbour Clinic said to be more than $20m, Health Minister Dr Duane Sands believes it is possible that the government will have to acquire additional loans to assist the recovery process in

Health minister 'has not lived up to union's expectations'

BAHAMAS Doctors Union President Dr Melisande Bassett yesterday said Health Minister Dr Duane Sands has not lived up to the union’s “expectations”, urging the minister to be more “concerned” about junior doctors.

25,000 still without measles vaccination

AS many as 25,000 people have no vaccination coverage for the highly infectious measles disease, Health Minister Dr Duane Sands said yesterday.The public’s vaccination rate remains at about 89 to 90 percent, but it could be better, the minister told

New healthy items set for breadbasket list

NEW healthy items will soon be added to the country’s breadbasket item list, Minister of Health Dr Duane Sands said yesterday.

Measles victim’s brother has virus

HEALTH Minister Dr Duane Sands confirmed yesterday that there has been a second case of measles in the country — this time in a 10-year-old tourist.

Infant left in car 'rescued by ministry staff'

MINISTRY of Health employees had to forcibly open the window of a car on Friday to rescue an infant who had been left unattended in the government agency’s parking lot, according to Health Minister Dr Duane Sands.

Measles outbreak: 50k need vaccine – Global alerts spark drive to protect children

OFFICIALS are on “heightened” alert over the highly infectious measles disease as the country’s vaccination coverage remains at decreased levels, Health Minister Dr Duane Sands said yesterday.

Sands: Venezuelan crisis poses health risks for region

THE ongoing crisis in Venezuela poses serious health threats for the region, according to Health Minister Dr Duane Sands, who yesterday raised concerns about the resurgence of vaccine-preventable diseases.

Overtime will be paid - but budget now blown

HEALTH Minister Dr Duane Sands yesterday said the Public Hospital Authority’s $1.2m monthly overtime bill could not continue “unchecked” as he defended the forecasted slowdown in overtime payments for healthcare workers.

Cabinet may make NHI decision before budget

CABINET could make a decision on the future of National Health Insurance before the next budget cycle, according to a hopeful Health Minister Dr Duane Sands.

4,000 adults to take part in health investigation

OFFICIALS are targeting approximately 4,000 adults in the 2019 STEPS health survey, which began in select Family Islands yesterday.

Bahamas ‘closer than ever’ to a sustainable NHI

The Bahamas “is as close as it has ever been to sustainable National Health Insurance (NHI)” with the Cabinet now awaiting the final report on recent stakeholder consultations.

We're still unhappy, say junior doctors

DAYS after the Bahamas Doctors Union agreed to call off strike action to negotiate over outstanding holiday pay, junior doctors said the Public Hospitals Authority’s offer of $1.80 per hour was not generous but below minimum wage.

Just what doctor ordered - no strike

THE imminent threat of a strike by the Bahamas Doctors Union was called off yesterday on the assurance that “swift” resolution will be brought to junior doctors receiving outstanding holiday pay, Health Minister Dr Duane Sands told The Tribune yesterday.

Minister advises withdrawal of Del Monte “fiesta corn”

HEALTH Minister Dr Duane Sands is advising wholesalers and retailers to pull cans of recalled Del Monte “fiesta corn” from their shelves, noting there is “no way” anything can be done to “make the product safe”.

Number of confirmed cases of swine flu rises to four

THE number of confirmed cases of swine flu in the country has risen to four, according to Health Minister Dr Duane Sands.

Swine flu: Third case diagnosed

HEALTH Minister Dr Duane Sands yesterday confirmed that a new case of the H1N1 virus, or swine flu, has been documented locally.

Possibility of industrial action by doctors ‘looking less likely’

HEALTH Minister Dr Duane Sands yesterday said the possibility of doctors withdrawing services is “looking less and less likely” as there continues to be “tremendous progress” in negotiations between the Consultant Physicians Staff Association (CPSA) and the Public Hospitals Authority (PHA).

At least two cases of swine flu – one fatal

AT least two cases of swine flu resulting in one death have been documented in the country and it is possible there could be more but officials are unable to say for certain, Health Minister Dr Duane Sands said yesterday.

One death as swine flu cases reported

A NUMBER of cases of swine flu have been reported in the Bahamas and one person has died from the illness, according to Minister of Health Dr Duane Sands who implored residents to get a flu vaccine.

Waste too 'entrenched' for govt NHI savings

The Government cannot finance National Health Insurance (NHI) from internal savings because waste and inefficiency is too “entrenched” in the public sector, a Cabinet minister has admitted.Dr Duane Sands, minister of health, told Tribune Business tha

Minister: 'Don't pull punches' on NHI fears

Healthcare industry stakeholders were yesterday told by a Cabinet minister not to “pull any punches” by holding back on concerns over the revised National Health Insurance (NHI) model.Dr Duane Sands, pictured, minister of health, said the proposal wa

Sands warns doctors and insurers will have to cut charges

All doctors, healthcare facilities and insurers must cut their fees if the revised National Health Insurance (NHI) model is to succeed and be financially viable, a Cabinet minister has warned.

Survey as govt takes steps to boost health

HEALTH Minister Dr Duane Sands on Monday announced the launch of the 2018 STEPS health survey in conjunction with the Pan American Health Organisation/World Health Organisation (PAHO/WHO).The survey, which is carried out globally in five year periods

Healthcare 'stagnation' warning if NHI rejected

BAHAMIANS have been warned that the drive towards affordable, quality healthcare for all will “stagnate” if they do not back the Government’s revised National Health Insurance model.Dr Duane Sands, minister of health, told Tribune Business it would

Breadbasket food revisions targeted for January 2019

A Cabinet minister yesterday said the promised revision to the country’s 45 year-old breadbasket goods line-up will likely occur in January 2019.Dr Duane Sands, pictured, minister of health, told Tribune Business that a public consultation tour over

Health service funding crisis ends in landmark plan - 2% levy on wages to pay $100m costs

A CONTRIBUTORY scheme in which the salaries of every employed Bahamian will be subject to a deduction of about two per cent each month was proposed yesterday by the National Health Insurance Authority as a means to pay for universal healthcare coverage for all, including children, elderly, and the unemployed.

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