The Opposition applauded Government last night for removing a controversial provision related to mammograms in a new health bill.

Health Minister Jeanne Atherden made good on a promise to protesters at the Cabinet Building on Thursday during the second reading of the new Health Insurance (Miscellaneous) Amendment Act.

But there was criticism of the Act’s increase of 12 per cent in the Standard Health Benefit at a time when the cost of living is rising.

Regarding mammography, Opposition leader Marc Bean said he was pleasantly surprised to see the about-turn and that the women of Bermuda have “given a collective sigh of relief”.

Shadow Health Minister Kim Wilson thanked Government for listening to the people, the Opposition and health professionals.

Government faced criticism after it was announced last week that under the new Act, coverage for cancer-detecting mammograms would be switched to the more stringent clinical practices of the United States.

Bermuda’s health system follows guidelines from the American College of Radiology, which recommends annual screenings for women aged 40 and older.

While the Opposition said they agreed with some of the measures brought forward in the Act, Mr Bean and Ms Wilson both said that they could not support the 12 per cent increase in the Standard Health Benefit at a time when the cost of living is continually rising and healthcare costs are already “exorbitant”.

Several Progressive Labour Party MPs chastised the Government for not doing more to involve the public in the discussion. Mr Bean called for a holistic approach to healthcare reform, stating that the greatest impact of a “piecemeal approach” would be on the already vulnerable population.

He also called for a greater emphasis on preventive and alternative medicine, adding that education was key because the “path to good health is knowledge of self”.

Ms Wilson also brought up several measures that could be utilised to cut healthcare costs, including the decentralisation of outpatient surgical care to community centres, charging patients who stay in hospital after they have been discharged, and reassessing the mandatory retirement age of nurses.

She also called for an improved utilisation of complementary and alternative care.

PLP MPs Lawrence Scott and Derrick Burgess both protested raising premiums, which Mr Scott pointed out came at a time when Belco was proposing price hikes of a similar magnitude.

“Withdraw this Bill and let’s sit down,” Mr Burgess said.

“It’s not about politics. It’s about getting it right for this country.”