The Health Professions Council monitors the quality of healthcare professions throughout The Bahamas and oversees the delivery of healthcare in the country. The emergence of new health professions presents opportunities for health service administration and regulation to evolve while ensuring that guidelines are updated, and the required basic standards consistently met.

The HPC creates a sturdy foundation for the formation of minimum Standards or Qualification; Registration of Health Professionals; the issuance of Licences; protection of the welfare and interest of Health Professionals and the establishment and regulation of a professional Code of Conduct for Health Professionals.

The Health Professions Council is a statutory body established by an Act of Parliament for the regulation of health professions, the performance of services by members of those professions and for purposes connected thereto.

#17 East Avenue Centerville
2nd Floor, Adel House
Nassau, New Providence
The Bahamas
P.O. Box N-7528

The Health Professions Council became operational on May 1, 2000 which is the
appointed day on which the Health Professions Act, 1998 came into force

The emergence of many new health professions has presented challenges for health
service administration. These professionals and paramedical professionals’ function
within individually formulated guidelines which may not always meet required basic
standards.
The establishment of the Health Professions Council will assist in monitoring the quality
of healthcare throughout The Bahamas and will have a positive impact on the overall
delivery of healthcare in the future.
It will allow for:
o the formation of minimum Standards or Qualification;
o the Registration of Health Professionals and the issuance of Licences;
o the promotion and protection of the welfare and interest of Health Professionals;
o the establishment of a professional Code of Conduct to protect the public’s
interest; and
o the regulation of the professional Code of Conduct of Health Professionals.

For the purposes of the Act, health professionals are identified as persons engaged in
the following health professions:
Acupuncture Therapy, Audiology and Speech Language Pathology Chiropody and
Emergency Services Technology, Medical Laboratory Technology, Occupational
Therapy, Optometry and Opticianry, Physiotherapy and Respiratory Therapy and
Radiology.

The Act makes provision for the inclusion and registration of other health professionals.
Part V, Section 26 of the Act states that the Minister may by order amend the First
Schedule.

Eleven (11).
As per the Act, the Council shall consist of eleven members:
o Chief Medical Officer
o Three (3) shall be appointed by the Minister acting in accordance with the advice
of the Associations representing Pharmacists, Medical Technologists,
Optometrists and Opticians
o Six (6) shall be appointed by the Minister, one of whom shall include a
representative from the other health professions registered under this Act,
o One (1) member of the public appointed by the Minister.

A member other than the Chief Medical Officer will serve on the Council for a period not exceeding three (3) years and shall be eligible for reappointment.

The Minister of Health appoints Council Members. The appointments are made, after
consultation with the respective Health Professional Associations and the Government.
(The Act – Second Schedule, Section 1)

The Minister of Health is not a member of the Council. However, the Minister of Health
continues to provide direction for the Council.