Reductions in health expenditures which came with the pandemic put the spotlight on the need for a “more resilient” system capable of adapting to such shocks, the Bermuda Health Council said today.

The organisation made the call in a comprehensive overview of the island’s health system stretching from 2007 to 2023.

In its latest National Health Accounts data set, the BHC said local health system spending decreased from $287.1 million in 2019-20 to $237.2 in 2020-21.

Overseas care expenditure fell from $103.8 million to $79.2 million in the same period.

The reductions were a direct result of restrictions in place during the pandemic, the health council said.

Its figures showed that over the 16-year period, total health system spending increased by 92 per cent from $426.4 million to $817.6 million and the figures reflected an average annual increase of 5.7 per cent.

A number of factors contributed to the increase and they included the rising demand for services, the growing complexity of care and changes in how care is delivered.

Between 2019 and 2023, the BHC said the island’s health system expenditure rose at an average of 2.2 per cent per year.

It added that effects of the pandemic were reflected in a temporary decline in spending in the 2020-21 fiscal period as many non-urgent services were delayed or postponed.

As services resumed, health system spending began to rebound in 2021-22, climbing to $817.6 million in the 2022-23 fiscal year.

The BHC said it is committed to supporting the development of creative and cost-effective solutions.

They include home-based care options to innovative community-based programmes that respond to the diverse needs of the island’s population while promoting financial sustainability.

• For more information or to see the health data, visithealthcouncil.bm/research-and-reports