Government was too ready to play the race card when they were losing debates.

And Dr. Brown -- a physician -- said: "People need to know this is not a game and that there is no card. Racism either exists or it doesn't and it's no game.'' Dr. Brown went on the offensive after a debate on standards for private medical testing labs came up for debate in the House of Assembly two weeks ago.

Shadow Finance Minister Grant Gibbons said then that in-house private testing services could be a temptation for doctors to over-prescribe -- a potential conflict of interest -- and increase the already-spiralling cost of health care on the Island.

And he told the House that some US states had introduced laws banning physician-owned testing facilities.

And Shadow Health and Social Services Minister Kim Young -- whose family business includes prescription drug importation and pharmacies -- came under fire from Telecommunications Minister Renee Webb who said the cost of drugs in Bermuda also impacted on health care costs.

But Dr. Brown -- speaking last Friday -- told MPs that the quality of testing had not been an issue when "white doctors were doing the testing'' and that the United Bermuda Party was targeting black-owned businesses.

That prompted a trio of black UBP MPs to deny that health care standards were a race issue, to insist that Government had "failed miserably'' in enhancing race relations and to claim that Government used race when it was on the losing side of debates.

Dr. Brown said yesterday: "I know the UBP is aware racism is a serious issue in Bermuda and it's a serious problem in our society.

"The sensible thing to do is to do something about it, not accuse people of playing the race card.'' Dr. Brown added he supported moves towards standard regulations for non-hospital medical support services -- and had encouraged Health Minister Nelson Bascome to implement them.

But he said: "I'm saying it's the timing of the issue..that issue was never raised when the testing was being done by white doctors only -- I'm not saying we shouldn't have standards.'' Dr. Brown added: "I want them to understand clearly this was a response to continuous innuendo from both of these Members and it was time to set the record straight.'' And he said Dr. Gibbons had only half the story on the US law -- the Stark amendment. He said the rule only applied to physician-owned lab services outside their own practices -- and pointed out all the similar services in Bermuda, including his own, were part of doctors' offices.

Brown hits back Dr. Brown last week added that the "outrageous, unregulated'' prices for drugs in Bermuda had never been cited as a potential conflict of interest, or as a factor in increasing health care costs.

He added -- which was denied by Phoenix chief Ward Young -- that discounts had been offered to doctors on supplies, which could also be interpreted as a conflict of interest.

Dr. Brown added: "I don't think it is -- it's a reasonable thing to offer someone who supports a business.'' Dr. Brown -- who also told the House last Friday that a 30-pill course of drugs was $30 in one pharmacy and $47 in a Phoenix branch -- responded to a challenge to name the drug.

He said: "It was Claritin -- it's an allergy medication.'' Mr. Young, who said if the allegation was proved, he would correct the situation, was yesterday off the Island.

But Phoenix pharmacies manager Georg Grundmuller said he would research the issue.

Dr. Ewart Brown