Bermuda’s healthcare challenges, such as an ageing population and rising costs, are not unique, Health Minister Zane DeSilva told Parliamentarians.Mr DeSilva’s comments followed observations made at a recent healthcare conference he attended in the Cayman Islands.“What struck me after attending the presentations and holding discussions with those present was that Bermuda’s healthcare challenges are not unique.“All of the health systems are struggling with many of the same issues as Bermuda, including escalating health costs, overutilisation, abuse of overseas care, lack of equity, quality of care, data sources, the increasing availability and use of high-cost diagnostic imaging technology and the real lack of integrated health records.“On top of all these issues, we are presented with an ageing population. Not only is the population getting older, the population as a whole is living longer and using an increasing amount of healthcare as they age.”Mr DeSilva attended the conference with Bermuda Health Council CEO Jennifer Attride-Stirling. Dr Attride-Stirling made a presentation on the Bermuda National Health Plan while there.The pair also attended presentations on healthcare pricing and payment models, the role of health insurance companies in driving healthcare costs and the impact of overutilisation.“Everyone is struggling to ensure that their entire population has access to not only acute care, but also primary care,” Mr DeSilva said. “But the biggest issue is how to pay for it while keeping costs down. We are not alone, Mr Speaker, we are not alone.”