Local health and insurance officials are working with Boston hospital chiefs in a bid to enhance treatment and strike a better deal for people who need to go off the Island for care.

Partners Health Care, which owns three major hospitals in Boston, has revealed that it has been in negotiations with the Government and local insurance companies in a bid to become the number one provider of health care overseas.

David Jones, executive director of Partners' international programme, said he had been in talks with a number of countries, including Bermuda, in a bid to form better relationships and to improve, globally, the flow of information in the health industry.

He said: "The idea is for us to become a preferred provider for Bermuda patients who have to go out of the Country for care.

"Many of them have traditionally come to Boston, but many others have gone elsewhere. We have been in discussion with the Government and the insurance board in Bermuda about a possible relationship.

"While it has been going on for a number of years, there is no contract at this point, although I think we remain very optimistic that ultimately we will have some kind of arrangement.'' He said he had been in talks with the Government and the insurance board about providing a contract for health care services.

Mr. Jones added: "Bermuda has been very concerned about the escalating cost of care delivered off the Island. Ultimately, I think what the Government wants is a provider who offers very high quality care in the most reasonable cost effective way.

"In building a very close relationship with us the expectation would be that we provided the same quality care at a lower cost.

"You would certainly be getting a better deal.'' But he said the partnership would also involve improving training programmes on the Island or transferring special diagnostic or other therapeutic programmes here that are unique or exceptional to the Boston hospitals. However, he said it was a long, drawn out process that involved a number of issues, including changes to insurance policies.

And he said Partners was not just trying to entice additional patients to use its hospitals, which include the Massachusetts General, Brigham and Women's, and the Spaulding Rehabilitation.

Mr. Jones added: "We are trying to get international revenue, there is no doubt about that, but that does not mean we are solely interested in attracting new patients.

"Part of our efforts in doing this is to create new opportunities to share information, learn about health care problems and solutions around the world.

That, in itself, is invaluable.'' About one percent of patients treated at hospitals owned by Partners in Boston are from overseas. But he added that, contrary to popular belief, they pay the same charges as Massachusetts' residents.