This is a letter sent to all senators and MPs by the Bermuda Dental Association and shared with The Royal Gazette.

To the Honourable Senators of Bermuda and the People of Bermuda,

We write to you in support of the letter issued by Elwood L I Fox, president of the Bermuda Medical Doctors Association, concerning the Bermuda Health Council Amendment Act 2024.

This legislation, passed in the House of Assembly on May 3, 2024, presents numerous challenges that are deeply concerning to the entire healthcare community. We urge both the Senate and the people of Bermuda to seriously consider the repercussions of this bill and to take immediate action to prevent its further passage.

The Bermuda Health Council Amendment Act, as it stands, fails to account for the complexities of our healthcare system and jeopardises the relationships between healthcare providers, patients, insurers, and allied health professionals.

While the goal of improving healthcare outcomes and achieving Universal Health Coverage is commendable, this legislation does not appear to have been crafted with proper input from key stakeholders – particularly physicians and healthcare providers who are at the heart of patient care.

Dr Fox and his colleagues have eloquently outlined the flaws in this Act, including the lack of strategic planning, the potential for overreach by the Bermuda Health Council, the threat to patient privacy, and the absence of critical infrastructure like a full disease registry and interoperable electronic health records.

Furthermore, the imposition of harsh penalties on healthcare providers without adequate safeguards or clear guidelines is highly concerning and risks driving even more tension into an already strained healthcare system.

The lack of collaboration with subject matter experts and the rushed nature of this legislation indicate a disregard for proper healthcare planning. It also raises alarms about the Government's capacity to protect sensitive health information and respect the rights of healthcare providers.

As Dr Fox aptly stated, this legislation could set a dangerous precedent by placing too much regulatory power in the hands of BHEC, without clear oversight mechanisms in place to ensure accountability.

We call on Bermuda's senators to reject this bill in its current form. It is imperative that our leaders take a step back, engage al relevant stakeholders, and draft legislation that reflects the voices of those who understand healthcare best – our physicians, health practitioners, insurers, and patients.

To the people of Bermuda, we urge you to stand with us. Contact your senators and make your voices heard. Let them know that we cannot afford to pass legislation that jeopardises the health and wellbeing of our island without thoughtful consideration and proper engagement from those directly involved in healthcare.

Together, we can work towards a healthcare system that is innovative, patient-centred, and forward-thinking. But we cannot achieve this by pushing through flawed legislation. Let us denounce this Act and chart a new course for Bermuda’s healthcare, one that we can all be proud of.

LEN WEDLICH

President of the Bermuda Dental Association