Bermuda Hospitals Board made more than $18 million in the last financial year, prompting Opposition MP Grant Gibbons to question yesterday whether it was overcharging patients for its services.

Former Finance Minister Dr Gibbons quizzed Health Minister Zane DeSilva on the issue in the House of Assembly yesterday, after the latter tabled BHB's financial statements for the fiscal years ending March 2009 and March 2010.

The statements reveal that the board — which is responsible for King Edward VII Memorial Hospital and the Mid-Atlantic Wellness Institute — had $18.3 million left to spare this year, after it had taken care of its $254 million operating expenses. Those expenses rose by almost $30 million between 2009 and 2010.

The board's income was $272 million income for the year ending March 2010, compared to $234 million the previous year.

Mr DeSilva told MPs yesterday that a health financing summit would take place on Monday to address the "joint issues of affordability and sustainability of the health care system in Bermuda".

He said citizens wanted to know why "health care costs are increasing so quickly compared to inflation and what are driving these costs".

The Minister noted that total health system expenditure on the Island is expected to rise to more than $1 billion by 2017, based on current growth rates.

During parliamentary question time, Dr Gibbons asked Mr DeSilva whether he believed BHB's "profit" in 2010 of more than $18 million had any bearing on the rapid increases in health care costs.

The Minister replied: "Some folks call that a profit; we call it a surplus. I think the honourable member might be very familiar with what hospitals do with their surpluses. To answer his question: no, I do not."

Shadow Education Minister Dr Gibbons then asked whether the Minister believed the $30 million increase in operating expenses had a bearing on rising health care costs.

Mr DeSilva said: "I'm sure they did." He suggested Dr Gibbons attend Monday's summit at the Fairmont Hamilton Princess to find out more, prompting the UBP politician to ask whether an examination of the expenses and profit being made by the hospitals would be part of the session.

The Minister told him: "I can't say 100 percent but I'm sure that will be addressed. I'm just positive it will be."

BHB has recorded a surplus in previous years, but this year the figure has more than doubled from $8.8 million in 2009. Less than a decade ago, the board was facing a $3.5 million deficit.

Dr Gibbons said last night: "This year's $18 million surplus begs the question of whether the hospital is overcharging for services." BHB did not respond to a request for comment yesterday.