BY: ARIANNA NEELY
BAHAMAS JOURNAL WRITER

This Wednesday marked yet another collaboration to provide better and more accessible healthcare
for Bahamians as Imperial Optical officially partnered with the Public Hospitals Authority
establishing an onsite dispensary within the Eye Care Center on Soldier Road.
At the opening, Dr. Micheal Darville, Minister of Health and Wellness explained how this
partnership will enhance delivery of eye care services for Bahamians in the future.
“This partnership with the Princess Margaret Hospital, the Public Hospitals Authority and,
Imperial Optical exemplifies that together with private sector groups, we can accomplish great
things in our country. Patients can now leave this facility after seeing the optometrist with
eyewear and get on with their lives,”
Darville also said, “for the average Bahamian, particularly those who are vulnerable and
unemployed, who are elderly, sometimes it’s difficult to find resources to get these necessary
tests done and with the support of Dr. Knowles and his team, we find that this process will be
very, very rapid and cost effective.”
He added that the partnership, along with other free eye examination programmes that are
aligned with my ministry to improve vision, to have accessibility to eyewear, and to ensure that
high quality healthcare for vision and ophthalmology and optometry are available to every
Bahamian in all walks of life.”
Dr. Richard Knowles proprietor of Imperial Optical was also present at the opening and
explained how the private sector can play a vital role in improving public healthcare. 
“This facility ensures that the public patients can fill their prescriptions and access affordable eye
care immediately after their appointment, reducing delays and alleviating strain on the system,
while improving the outcome for those relying on public services. We have also committed to
providing our volunteer optometrists to support the Eye Care Centre services. This approach
decreases, again, like was mentioned before, wait time and facilitate more efficiency in service
and treatment”
PHA Managing Director, Aubynette Rolle explained the criteria for eligibility of this new service
that is now offered at the Eye Center.“This partnership affects every public patient who is
registered to be seen here. Now the caveat is that you must be a public patient. You cannot come
from a private center and then seek to source to have your eyes [examined] and [obtain] eyewear,
here at a reduced cost. You must come through the system.”
This partnership will not be a temporary service, both Imperial Optical and the Public Hospitals
Authority are hoping to offer this onsite service for several years. The PHA and Ministry of
Health continue to explore even more ways to support the Bahamian Public Health Systems.

The launch of this collaboration between the PHA and Imperial Optical marks a significant and
deeply appreciated step towards addressing one of the longstanding challenges in the public
health system, access to affordable eye care. Imperial Optical presently had around 500-600 pairs
of frames at the Eye Center on Soldier Road. This partnership will allow members of the
community to receive eye care at a significantly reduced cost.