The long-awaited Bermuda Health Council will soon become a reality, acting Health Minister Walter Lister claimed in the House of Assembly yesterday ? a move he promises will usher in a new era of healthcare on the Island.

The formation of the Council, which will be handed the mandate of co-ordinating and formulating policy for Bermuda's entire health system, is to be discussed at the much-vaunted Health Summit on March 23 and 24, where leading players in the local healthcare industry will be called upon to highlight ways to improve the system's efficiency and affordability.

In reply, however, Shadow Health Minister Michael Dunkley questioned why it has taken the Progressive Labour Party so long to "get the ball finally rolling" on the Council while accusing them of doing little to address the Island's spiralling healthcare costs.

"The mission of the Council will be to oversee all healthcare provision in Bermuda," Mr. Lister said in the House of Assembly yesterday.

"It will be to ensure all residents have appropriate access to optimal quality healthcare while exercising stewardship of Bermuda's resources. The Council will assist in co-ordinating, regulating and providing strategic direction for health care in Bermuda...The Government accepts that improved oversight of Bermuda's healthcare system is essential to ensure the system meets the emerging needs of the residents...A central body with a mandate to drive these critical improvements to our healthcare system will be crucial in the implementation of healthcare reform."

Mr. Lister reiterated that $402,000 has been allocated towards the establishment of the Council, while stressing moves to make the body "operational" are well-advanced.

The Health Summit will provide a "baseline", Mr. Lister said, from which the Council can be properly launched.

"We do face certain challenges, such a rising healthcare costs," he said.

"We must make some difficult decisions in order to ensure that the healthcare provided in Bermuda remains of the highest calibre and universally accessible."

But Mr. Dunkley argued Government was guilty of more words than action, suggesting instead they were merely throwing money at healthcare problems without backing the investment up with sensible policies.

"The Ministry of Health will have spent about $900 million during the PLP's time in power which equates to $350,000 per day," he said.

"By anybody's standards that is a lot of money and I would question, given the physical lack of progress whether we are getting value for our money here in Bermuda. What is really happening is more money is being thrown at many of our problems without a clear vision as to the impact it might have in solving that particular problem."

Mr. Dunkley scolded the Government for paying mere "lip-service" to issues such as Aids and treatment for drug addiction while calling on them to do "a great deal more" to promote healthier lifestyles among Bermudians.

The latter point, he suggested, should include campaigns against obesity, the consumption of fatty foods and unnecessary taking of "quick-fix" legal drugs, as well as the banning of smoking in all public places.

"The benefits of these programmes would be tremendous not only to the cost of healthcare in Bermuda but also in the quality of our lives," he concluded.

"On a small Island like Bermuda it can be done and it can be done well if only we have the fortitude to attack these issues with programmes and policies."