Lack of transparency in Bermuda’s healthcare system is no longer just an administrative oversight; it is a breach of public trust. When nearly $1 billion of taxpayer money has flowed into our hospital since the introduction of block-grant funding in 2019, Bermudians have every right to demand answers about where that money has gone, whether it has been used wisely, efficiently and with patient outcomes in mind.

Shadow health minister Robin Tucker and One Bermuda Alliance candidate David Rogers have rightly drawn attention to the Bermuda Hospitals Board’s continued failure to publish audited financial statements since 2020. Similarly, the Bermuda Health Council has not released a National Health Accounts Report since the 2019-20 fiscal year. These reports are not optional; they are essential to understanding how public and private health dollars are being spent.

Even more troubling is the shifting explanation for these delays. At one point, the reports were said to be complete and awaiting internal sign-off. More recently, we have been told they are still “in progress” but 95 per cent complete. Which is it? This inconsistency undermines confidence in the entire system. Five years on from the pandemic, surely Covid-19 can no longer be used as a convenient excuse for the absence of basic financial accountability. Every other sector has adapted, why hasn’t this one?

Healthcare represents one of the largest components of Bermuda’s budget. In the 2025-26 fiscal year alone, $177 million has been allocated to the hospital. The total of almost $1 billion spent over the past six years is a staggering sum — especially when the public have no way of knowing if this model is delivering value for money or improving patient care. The fundamental question is this: how can Bermudians know whether our money is being well spent if we don’t even know where it’s being spent? Is this simply poor oversight or is it mismanagement?

What’s more, while the Government has pointed to partial financial data as a basis for advancing its Universal Healthcare plan in 2026, this falls short of the full transparency required. A spreadsheet is not a substitute for a comprehensive, independently reviewed National Health Accounts Report. Without current, complete and publicly vetted data, Bermudians are being asked to support sweeping reforms without a clear picture of the financial state of our present system.

While we wait for answers, the Government has launched the Steps to Wellness Survey, urging the public to take part and quoting the well-worn phrase “what gets measured gets managed”. That statement is true, but also deeply ironic. We are measuring wellness but failing to measure spending. We are collecting new survey data while the core financial data from 2019 to 2023 remains unpublished.

This signals a troubling disconnect in priorities.

It also raises serious questions about the proposed implementation of Universal Healthcare in 2026. How does the Government intend to roll out such a transformative reform without an updated, credible financial picture of the system it aims to overhaul? Where are the risk assessments? Where are the actuarial studies and sustainability models? How will we ensure equity in access and quality of care?

Accountability must be more than a campaign promise. It should be a fundamental principle of governance, especially in healthcare, where decisions affect lives, livelihoods and the long-term sustainability of our economy.

It is time for a reset in how healthcare finances are managed and communicated. Bermudians deserve a full, honest picture of how their money is being used, not vague promises and delayed reports. Because at the end of the day, healthcare is not just about numbers. It’s about people. It’s about ensuring that every patient, every senior, every child and every family can trust that the care they need is accessible, affordable and accountable.

• Victoria Cunningham is a One Bermuda Alliance senator and the spokeswoman for health, education, legal affairs and the Cabinet Office