Upcoming legislation that will boost the monitoring and credibility of healthcare providers has been welcomed by the Bermuda Health Council.

Tawana Wedderburn, council CEO, said the Bermuda Health Council Amendment Act 2016 would improve quality of care and enhance public trust in the island’s health services.

If passed by legislators, the Act “will require a licence to operate for health service providers, and permission to import high-risk health technology” such as nuclear scanners, Ms Wedderburn said.

It will also prohibit “financially vested referrals and self-referrals”, she said — although in certain cases self-referrals remain appropriate, such as in specialist care.

“Part of why we are looking at financial referrals is about protecting the public from unnecessary testing, and in cases with financially vested self referral has to be made, it is done with transparency.”

Ms Wedderburn cautioned that the council “does not want to interfere with patient choice”.

“What we’re saying is that when you choose, you should do so based on information that is accurate, you should choose care that is safe, and that care should be delivered in facilities that have met basic standards.

“One of the things that the legislation proposes is that the council will issue a code of practices, which will guide providers in making appropriate referrals.”

Improving efficiencies in healthcare stands to decrease costs, Ms Wedderburn added, while boosting transparency will increase trust.

Some facilities will not be governed by the legislation: yoga and fitness instructors will get a pass, for example, while wholesale importers of pharmaceutical and medical equipment, and tattoo and body piercing facilities, will also be exempted.

The council issued an invitation in 2015 for healthcare providers to get registered: so far, 245 have signed on, and are listed on the Bermuda Health Council’s website.