Healthcare is one of the most pressing issues facing every country in the world — and Bermuda is no exception.

Although the health challenges we face are considerable, much work is being done today to prepare for the realities of tomorrow. We now understand what needs to be done to improve our collective wellbeing and are putting in place improvements so all Bermudians are well supported, whether they are ill or ageing.

We are fortunate to have an excellent healthcare system that meets most of our needs, and for specialist treatment, we can travel overseas to receive care from some of the best hospitals in the world.

But our high quality of care in Bermuda comes with a cost. A 2014 report from the Bermuda Health Council illustrates that annual health-related spending was $693 million or $11,188 per person, which is 43 per cent higher than the average for the 34 countries in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. The Government meets $207 million of the total cost.

Bermuda’s healthcare system faces other challenges. Not only must we become healthier, but increasing costs are exacerbated by a reduced ability to pay. Demographics are also working against us. There are fewer young, healthy people in the workforce — workers who pay into our system, but who are less likely to require costly medical treatment. Our birthrate has also fallen below our death rate. Simply put, there are fewer young people to support our seniors. The number of seniors is also increasing. Fifteen years ago, Bermuda residents 65 years or older totalled 6,722. Ten years later, this was up 29 per cent to 8,683. With these societal realities firmly in mind, the work we are carrying out now is aimed at ensuring that healthcare is affordable and sustainable in the years to come.

To addresses these realities, health minister Jeanne Atherden outlined several initiatives this month at a symposium on the Bermuda Health Strategy and Action Plan. This five-year action plan will move Bermuda towards improved, compassionate healthcare that is accessible and affordable for all.

Another initiative improves the basic benefits in the Standard Health Benefit to aid the most vulnerable, so people receive “the right care, in the right setting, at the right time”. As Ms Atherden stated when announcing these improvements, evidence shows that quality, timely care is the most cost-effective healthcare.

To assist our seniors, several new benefits were added to Future Care in September 2015. These include Personal Home Care Services, enabling us to age in our homes, which reduces the length and number of hospital stays. Provisions have also been made to increase the availability of specialist visits for improved chronic disease management and also health and wellness benefits for preventive care management. Just as doctors strive to treat the whole patient, we are focusing on matters beyond patient care. We are fighting to make sure the health insurance system is properly funded — a fight I have championed while serving as deputy chairman of the Bermuda Health Council.

Shocking though it may seem, a few unscrupulous employers failed to maintain health insurance payments for their employees with impunity. Not any longer: rogue employers are now being taken to court and publicly named and shamed. I am proud of my role on the Bermuda Health Council in bringing about this change. This is not just about justice; wrongdoers who fail to pay into the health insurance system increase the costs for us all. We need everyone to pay their fair share.

The minister’s health strategy goal is “healthy people in healthy communities”. We owe it to ourselves and to future generations to continue to improve our healthcare so that it is affordable, sustainable and provides the quality care that we need and deserve.

If elected to serve the constituents of Devonshire North Central, I will fight for this goal to become a reality.

Andrew Simons is contesting the by-election to become the One Bermuda Alliance MP for Devonshire North Central (Constituency 13) on February 4.