Healthcare reforms proposed by the Opposition include opening the Island’s market to international insurers to drive down costs through competition.

The Progressive Labour Party’s Reply to the Throne Speech proposes removing the Bermuda Health Council, and banning the importation of genetically modified organisms, or GMOs.

According to Marc Bean, the PLP would bring in “an integrative system that combines the best of allopathic and naturopathic medicine”. Naturopathic treatments would include clinical nutrition, botanical medicine, homeopathy, acupuncture, physical therapies and counselling, Mr Bean, the party leader, told MPs.

“We will also promote the distribution and use of CBD oil, a powerful healing extract derived from the cannabis plant,” Mr Bean said.

More senior facilities would be created through a combined effort of the private sector and government, he said. There would also be a Charter of Rights to protect seniors from “all forms of abuse”. “Another step the PLP government will take is to provide seniors with an independent living subsidy to support families who prefer their seniors to stay and be cared for at home,” Mr Bean said.

During the subsequent debate, Opposition MP Kim Wilson stressed that a PLP government would emphasise “educating as opposed to medicating”, with firm health education from preschool.

An alternative therapies, Ms Wilson said such treatments were widely accepted and “one of the fastest-growing segments in the healthcare industry”, as an alternative to conventional medicine or in tandem with it. She recalled her own successful treatment of sciatic pain through acupuncture.

“Complementary and alternative therapies do have a place in our modern society, and I’m pleased that the PLP as a government would provide for a mandatory requirement that health insurers extend coverage to cover established complementary and alternative medical services,” Ms Wilson added. She also called for a ban on GMOs, indicating their links to sterility and cancer.