A powerful health council is to be set up to supervise all the Island?s healthcare needs, license professionals and set their fees, and regulate the price of drugs.

Health Minister Patrice Minors tabled the Bermuda Health Council bill yesterday and said she expected it to be debated in two weeks.

The council will have a chief executive, and will include the Chief Medical Officer, the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Health and Family Services, the Financial Secretary, and between nine and 11 ordinary members nominated by the Minister of Health.

The council will carry out health policy directed by the Minister of Health. The proposed legislation comes eight years after a health council was proposed in a report into the Island?s healthcare system by Senate President Alf Oughton.

But his recommendation was rejected on cost grounds by accountants Arthur Anderson. The bill states the health council will: ensure there is good health services; regulate, monitor, certify and set fees for health professionals; manage the health insurance plan; identify and publish goals for he health care system; regulate the price of drugs; promote wellness programmes; and carry out research.

Former Health Minister Nelson Bascome last year said he expected to have the legislation tabled by last July.

The bill follows meetings from a working group involving insurers, health professional bodies, unions and consumers.

After issuing the legislation yesterday, Ms Minors said in a statement: ?Members of the public will acknowledge that the issue of health care reform has been the subject of debate for quite some time in Bermuda.

?Issues and concerns about the delivery, quality and cost of health care have led to the establishment of various committees and groups to determine what needs to be done to assure quality health care for the residents in these islands.

?The Ministry of Health and Family Services has reviewed these reports, considered the options for improving health care in Bermuda and made recommendations for Cabinet accordingly.

?The Government accepts that improved oversight of Bermuda?s health care system is essential to ensuring that the system meets the emerging needs of the Island?s residents, is efficient and cost effective and provides an appropriate mix of services that are affordable and accessible to all residents.

?A central body with a mandate to drive these critical improvements to our health care system will be crucial to the process of implementing health care reform.

?The Bermuda Health Council Act 2004 will provide for establishing this central oversight body that will regulate, co-ordinate and enhance the provision of health services in Bermuda.

?I look forward to the discussion on this Bill in the House of Assembly two weeks from today as I see this as a first step in establishing the Bermuda health Council and our journey toward bringing about health care reform.?