The islands of the Bahamas, off the coast of Florida in the U.S., are one of the most popular destinations for visitors. A thriving expat community also calls the Bahamas home. Like many island nations and former colonies, the Bahamas’ healthcare system hasn’t always been the best. But these days, the main islands offer several high-quality public and private hospitals.
The best hospitals in the Bahamas provide care for a wide range of conditions and include specialties such as cardiology, orthopedics, obstetrics, gynecology and pediatrics. Emergency care is also available in case of sudden illness or accidents, which are always a risk when traveling.
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Are There Good Hospitals in the Bahamas?
The Caribbean country has excellent hospital care available in Freeport and Nassau — the cities on the main islands of Grand Bahama and New Providence. Medical care is limited in the rural areas of the Bahamas, though the hospitals offer satellite clinics in what are called the “Out Islands.”
Overall, the Bahamas offers three public hospitals and two private. One of the private hospitals, Doctors, is accredited by the prestigious Joint Commission International (JCI). There are many other facilities, clinics and medical offices throughout the country, but most are not equipped for serious medical conditions.
The quality of care in the Bahamas is among the most progressive in the Caribbean. The standard of healthcare has risen a lot since 2016, when NHI Bahamas was created and the government started a major push to improve and modernize the healthcare system in the Bahamas, both for residents and visistors.
What Are the 3 Best Hospitals in the Bahamas?
The top three best hospitals in the Bahamas are a mix of public and private offerings, all located either in Nassau or Freeport. Although excellent care is available here, medical transport to Miami may be necessary for critical care and complex medical conditions.
Doctors Hospital:
Doctors Hospital is the only hospital in the Bahamas that’s accredited by the Joint Commission International. With about 70 beds, the privately operated hospital includes specialties such as cardiovascular, orthopedic and general surgery, obstetrics, gynecology, urology, cardiology, gastroenterology, ophthalmology, internal medicine, family medicine and pediatrics. Emergency room care is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
#1 Collins Avenue & Shirley Street
P.O. Box N 3018
Nassau, The Bahamas
+1 (242) 302-4600
info@doctorshosp.com
Princess Margaret Hospital:
With more than 400 beds, the publicly operated Princess Margaret Hospital focuses on acute-care and includes a trauma center. Specialties include intensive care, obstetrics, gynecology, ophthalmology, pediatrics, surgery and ambulatory clinics. Like Doctors Hospital, Princess Margaret Hospital is located in Nassau on New Providence Island.
Shirley Street
P O Box N-3730
Nassau, The Bahamas
+1 (242) 322-2861
Rand Memorial Hospital:
Located in Freeport on Grand Bahama Island, Rand Memorial Hospital has 85 beds. The hospital was originally opened as a private hospital in 1969 but became a public hospital two years later. Services offered include critical care, physiotherapy, emergency care, urgent care, psychiatry, oncology, pediatrics, surgery, obstetrics, gynecology and orthopedics. Following damage in 2019 from Hurricane Dorian, the hospital benefited from $39 million in construction and repairs.
East Atlantic Drive
Freeport, Grand Bahama, Bahamas
+1 242-350-6700
How Can Expats and Visitors Access Hospitals in the Bahamas?
English is spoken in the Bahamas, so there should be few communication problems in any of the clinics and hospitals on the islands of the Bahamas for American or English-speaking visitors or expats.
Public and private hospitals are open to visitors and residents of the Bahamas alike. The U.S. Department of State warns that, while ambulance service is available on the major islands of the Bahamas, traffic on New Providence Island can cause delays in reaching emergency care.
The islands of the Bahamas have 55 health centers and 59 satellite clinics for outpatients in need of urgent care for conditions that are not life-threatening. It’s a good idea to find the nearest clinic to where you’ll be staying before you go.
How Much Does it Cost to Visit a Hospital in the Bahamas?
The costs of medical care in the Bahamas can be as much as 30 to 40 percent less than in the United States, but payments may be required at the time of care if you don’t have health insurance coverage.
National health insurance in the Bahamas provides free healthcare for expectant mothers, people age 60 and older, children and civil servants. All legal residents of the Bahamas are eligible for full healthcare benefits, but National Health Insurance, or NHI Bahamas, doesn’t cover everything.
Among the healthcare costs that are not covered by NHI Bahamas are emergencies such as a heart attack or a broken bone, delivery of babies, inpatient care and surgeries. The program does cover primary care, immunizations, annual physicals, and certain screenings such as pap smears and prostate screenings.
U.S. citizens will want to note that Medicare and Medicaid are not honored at hospitals in the Bahamas. Most U.S. health insurance will not cover overseas medical costs, either.
Read More: Travel Medical Insurance
The U.S. Department of State recommends that visitors and expats in the Bahamas purchase travel medical insurance that covers medical transportation. Air ambulance transport can cost anywhere from $50,000 to $150,000 or more, so having coverage for this cost is vital.
Not every medical emergency will require medical transportation to a hospital in the U.S., but for those that are life-threatening, the service is essential. Medical transportation coverage can also include transportation for a loved one to be by your side.
Best Health Insurance Plan for Expats In the Bahamas:
Cigna Global Insurance Plan
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Best Health Insurance Plan for US Citizens Living In the Bahamas:
Xplorer Worldwide Medical Plan
- Premium Benefits, Coverage and Service
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- For Foreigners in the US or US citizens abroad
Other Recommended Hospitals for Expats in the Bahamas
Many of the healthcare professionals in the Bahamas are highly trained, having earned their medical degrees and performed residencies and fellowships in the United Kingdom, the U.S. and Canada. The hospitals listed above, though, are the only real locations for serious care.
In addition to the hospitals listed as the best hospitals in the Bahamas, two facilities provide high-quality specialized care, but not emergency or urgent services.
Lyford Cay Hospital:
Lyford Cay is a small private hospital offering cardiology, internal medicine and family practice. The facility is highly regarded, but has limited hours and is not equipped for emergencies.
Western Road
Nassau, The Bahamas
+1 242 362 4400
Sandilands Rehabilitation Centre:
Sandilands Rehabilitation Centre includes a geriatric hospital for elderly patients with medical or psychiatric conditions, Sandilands Hospital for mentally and physically challenged children and adults, and three substance abuse units.
Fox Hill Road
Nassau, The Bahamas
+1 242-324-1246
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