The Health Professions Act (HPA) was assented to on August 6th, 1998.

In 1999, an Interim Working Committee was appointed for the purpose of drafting the subsidiary legislation and formation of the Health Professions Council. The committee was led by Dr. I. Earle Farrington and its membership comprised Dr. Vernell Allen, former Chief Medical Officer (CMO), Dr. Merceline Dahl-Regis, current Chief Medical Officer (CMO); Mrs. Andrea Archer, former Deputy Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health; Mrs. Jan Thompson, Health Systems Officer, Ministry of Health; Mrs. Maggie Moss, former Senior Nursing Officer, Ministry of Health and Mr. Frank Williams, Legal Advisor and Consultant from Canada. Existing Associations and individuals practicing in the professions identified for regulation were encouraged to provide their input and information to assist in forming the legislation.

The Health Professions (General) Regulations and the Health Professions (Complaints and Disciplinary Proceedings) Regulations were assented to in 2000, and the Health Professions Council (HPC) was established in 2000. Having been established, the duties of the HPC as outlined in the HPA, 1998, Section 11 (1) are:

The Act outlined twelve (12) categories of professions to be regulated: Diagnostic and Therapeutic Radiography, Medical Laboratory Technology, Pharmacy, Optometry, Opticianry, Physiotherapy, Chiropody, Podiatry, Chiropractic, Occupational Therapy, Clinical Psychology, Dietetics, Emergency Medical Services and Acupuncture.

Through an amendment (Amendment to First Schedule) Order 2001, signed by Dr. Ronald L. Knowles, Minister of Health, on May 8, 2001. Audiology and Speech Language Pathology was added as the thirteenth profession to be regulated. Additionally, sub-groups for several of the professions were also identified.

In July 1999, Dr. Farrington was appointed as the first Chairman and Mrs. Maggie Moss, as part-time Registrar. Under the direction of the then Minister of Health, the Honorable Dr. Ronald Knowles, members of the Council were appointed with effect from November 1, 1999 to October 31, 2000. The membership comprised along with the Chairman and Registrar, Dr. Carleton Williams, Deputy Chairman; Dr. Merceline Dahl-Regis, Ex-officio; Mrs. Vanria Rolle, Pharmacist; Mrs. Icelyn Butler, Medical Laboratory Technologist; Mrs. Margaret Rodgers, Nurse; Mrs. Velma Burrows, Physiotherapist; Mrs. Janet DeBarros, Medical Laboratory Technologist; Mr. H. Campbell Cleare III, Attorney-at-Law and Mrs. Pamela Burnside, Educator.

After the appointment of Council Members, the first Council meeting was held February 9th, 2000. Dr. Farrington welcomed Council Members to the first meeting and thus the business of the Council began. The Council met on a monthly basis with that practice continuing to this day.

Challenged with the mandate of regulation of health professions falling under the umbrella of the Act, the Council embarked on a publicity campaign on the islands of New Providence and Grand Bahama where the majority of health professionals would be practicing. Meetings were held with various groups and the print media was used to disseminate information. Pamphlets and Information booklets were also distributed, while practicing health professionals received individual correspondence encouraging registration and licensure with the Council. Although the task was a daunting one, through the diligence of the Registrar, Mrs. Maggie Moss and the staff, the Council began to register and licence health professionals. By 2002, there were 200 registrants on the Health Professions Register.

By January 2002, Dr. Farrington, Mr. Williams and Mrs. Moss had demitted office. Mr. H. Campbell Cleare III became Chairman, Mrs. Pamela Burnside, Deputy Chairman and Miss Bernadette Ellis, who joined the staff on December 19, 2001, became the first full-time Registrar for the Council.

With Mr. Cleare at the helm, the Council was able to address and resolve many legal issues that arose during the course of carrying out its mandate. Under his leadership, the Council not only held monthly meetings but also scheduled several Saturdays in April 2002 to address outstanding matters.

Dr. Charles Diggiss became the third appointed Chairman for the Council. He began his tenure in July 2002. The Council continued to progress and by 2004 had over 400 hundred registrants on its Register. More clarity was brought to the Council’s processes for registration and licensure which included prime source verification. Through the research of the Registrar, the Council was better able to address issues that had provided challenges during the Council’s infant stage. The advances and availability of technology played a significant part in accessing information that the Council did not initially have available.

Improvements continue to be made. To assist in the authentication of documents, the Apostille Process has been put in place. The Council no longer regulates the practice of Pharmacy. Once the Pharmacy Act was gazetted and signed by Minister of Health, the Honorable Hubert Minnis, on December 18, 2009, the newly established Pharmacy Council assumed responsibility for the regulation of Pharmacists.