Health Minister Nelson Bascome last night said Bermuda could have a national health council in place by as early as spring next year - if the majority of key players were in favour.

He spoke after both the Bermuda Heath Insurance Association (BHIA) and physicians voiced their interest in seeing an official health watchdog set up on the Island.

The minister said right now representatives from every aspect of the health system, including King Edward VII Memorial Hospital, chemists, doctors, insurance companies and both his and the finance ministry, were regularly meeting to reform the system and implement recommendations.

And Mr. Bascome said there was no reason that, as a result of those discussions, the issue of a health council could not be raised and even set up within the coming months.

He said: "The insurance people are at the table, and the doctors are at the table. If this is something they want, they can make that recommendation. Right now, they are discussing the whole health care package and its way forward.

"This could certainly be done."

Mr. Bascome said members of the committee should discuss the issue to see if the majority of people were in favour.

Once that has been established, he said they should then decide on the criteria of the health council and who would form that council, taking into account every aspect of health, including the community and the patients.

But he warned that the selection of people on the council should be done with care, especially if one of its roles was to keep a watchful eye on the system and the players taking part.

Mr. Bascome added: "This is well within the realm of the mandate they have in sitting down and re-designing Bermuda's health care system.

"They began meeting at the end of September, beginning of October, so they should be coming to the end of their six-month deadline in about March.

"What could come out of that at the end, if its recommended, is a health council. It could follow on when the committee comes to an end."

But Mr. Bascome said his personal opinion was that Bermuda did not need a health council.

He said he believed with everyone now at the table openly discussing the way forward and making recommendations, there would be no need for one.

However, he added: "If the majority want a health council then they should have it. But now is the time for them to be discussing it."

Two weeks' ago the BHIA held a press conference to put forward it views of the health care system in Bermuda, and why the cost of health insurance premiums were increasing so much.

And earlier this week, in response to the BHIA, the Bermuda Medical Association and the Bermuda Medical Society put forward its opinions and concerns.

However, both said they wanted a health council.

But the medical society and association have also expressed concern about the number of patients who are going overseas for treatment when they could receive it in Bermuda, which massively increases the cost of health care and premiums.

They said many residents used the opportunity to go abroad with a relative for all-expenses paid shopping trips, and they said there were many cases where insurance companies had encouraged patients to go abroad for care.

The minister said this was also something he was concerned about, and wanted to see the committee work together to ensure the cost of health care was reduced and the number of people treated in Bermuda increased.

And he said one way to do that was to make sure as many patients as possible were referred for treatment by their physicians, and not the insurance companies, which happens now and is known as 'managed care'.

He said: "What we are trying to ensure at the moment is that the patient gets the correct referral from the physicians, and not the insurance companies. That should have some effect.

"I would like to see more people treated here where ever possible."

But Mr. Bascome said he hoped no other sector of the health system would speak out independently in the press on what they felt the answers were.

He said the committee was working together and therefore should speak together.

He added: "I honestly believe that not everyone is operating in the confines of the negotiations.

"The insurance companies are out there creating brand new proposals in the press, and then the doctors respond and also go to the press with their proposals.

"It's creating an atmosphere that is not conducive to really moving forward without gamesmanship."