Government proposals to further regulate the health industry have been condemned by medics in the private sector.

Under regulations tabled in the House of Assembly last Friday, health companies wishing to bring in “high-risk health technology” must first get permission from the Bermuda Health Council — a government quango.

The regulations state that the council will then assess applications “to determine whether there is a need for such technology in Bermuda” before deciding whether a permit should be granted.

Companies that breach the new rules will face a fine of up to $50,000.

Yesterday private health companies blasted the proposal, claiming that it “threatens to restrict access to modern medical technologies and undermine patient care”.

JJ Soares, the director of HMC Burnaby Urgent Care & Medical Imaging, added that the legislation would “further entrench outdated technologies in our healthcare system while limiting healthcare providers’ ability to innovate”.

Dr Soares said: “The health minister and Bermuda Health Council seem more focused on controlling doctors than on enhancing patient care or the quality of medical services. If they had their way, facilities like ours — which provide cutting-edge medical care — would not exist.

“The BHC’s continued failure to address the out-of-date diagnostic equipment still being operated on this island and patient convenience only adds to the growing concern.

“They claim to prioritise safety, yet the technologies they label as ‘high risk’ are not inherently dangerous. This is just inflammatory wording which the BHC is deliberately deploying to convince the public that there is something ‘dangerous’ out there that they need their protection from.”

While the regulations do not specifically cite diagnostic imaging, the technology already faces limits because of its potential for causing harm if overused.

Dr Soares said that imaging equipment already had to undergo “rigorous” annual inspections and was subject to “extensive and stringent” licensing requirements.

He added that the BHeC had no evidence to back up another of its claims — that new technology would drive up healthcare costs.

He said: “It appears the council is prioritising the preservation of a declining hospital’s revenue stream, ignoring the reality that Bermuda’s healthcare landscape is evolving and that the private sector has much to offer.”

Dr Soares claimed that overseas referrals swallowed up almost 13 per cent of the health budget — but that advancements and investments made by private practices had reduced the need for patients to go overseas and resulted in cost savings.

He added: “Instead of restricting the private sector, we should be empowering it to reduce our reliance on the more costly overseas services and local hospital care.

“Additionally, the BHC’s approach may inadvertently stifle innovation by forcing healthcare providers to retain outdated technologies. By restricting the replacement of older equipment, we are condemning ourselves to a stagnant healthcare environment.

“The hospital is clearly struggling to keep pace with technology and our community’s healthcare needs as it is. This Bill will only exacerbate the issue by hamstringing services that the private sector can provide more efficiently, at a lower cost, at better quality and at greater convenience to the public.”

Dr Soares said the private sector was being “continually punished” and that the complexities of the health system required a more “nuanced” approach.

He said: “We need to augment the quality of testing and care locally, not restrict it. The private sector is equipped with the latest technologies and can deliver services that the hospital fails to provide.”

Last night Ewart Brown, the head of Bermuda Healthcare Services, also criticised the move, saying elaborate data on technology used by physicians was already held by insurers and would enable the BHeC to track its use if the council wished.

Dr Brown, a former premier, said: “So instead of sending doctors to jail, the Health Council is proposing hefty fines.

“What I don’t understand is why doctors are being threatened with outrageous fines while the information the council is seeking sits at every insurance company in Bermuda.

“The real question is this: why is the health council so reluctant to go to the insurance companies? What are they afraid of?”

Asked for comment, the Ministry of Health said last night: “This Bill does not make it illegal to import new equipment, but licences need to be issued prior to importation to ensure that equipment brought into Bermuda is safe, in the interest of protecting patient health.

“The Government has determined that protections are necessary to ensure that there are no adverse effects on patients in Bermuda with the use of high-risk medical equipment.

“We do not agree with the unnecessary alarmism raised by Dr Soares and would remind all persons that the Ministry of Health’s overriding interest is the protection of patient health.”

•On occasion The Royal Gazette may decide to not allow comments on what we consider to be a controversial or contentious story. As we are legally liable for any libellous or defamatory comments made on our website, this move is for our protection as well as that of our readers