A top accountancy firm has been signed up in a joint bid by Government and hospitals chiefs to cope with the spiralling cost of health.

Now Arthur Andersen will draw up long-term strategies over a 16-month period to ensure continued access to high-quality health care for Bermudians while guaranteeing cost-effective and efficient service delivery.

Health and Social Services Minister Clarence Terceira was yesterday off the Island and unavailable for comment.

But Ministry Permanent Secretary Donald Scott said the 1996 Health Care Review will provide "an excellent foundation'' for future plans.

He added: "The report identified many of the challenges ahead for health care.

"The strategic planning that will be done now in partnership with the Hospitals Board and Arthur Andersen will enable us to identify appropriate solutions, test their feasibility and then implement them.'' Mr. Talbot said that the Hospitals Board had recognised the need to incorporate a formal planning process into management practices to ensure the hospital's future financial and operational success.

He added that the Bermuda Hospitals Board was keen to work with the Ministry on issues which affected both organisations.

Mr. Talbot said: "The BHB is one of the major players in Bermuda's health care system and the people of Bermuda will be better served when members of the system are working hand in hand toward the same goals.

"The issues, such as maintaining quality of care while containing costs, as well as our increasing elderly population, are too complex for one institution to try and tackle in isolation.'' And he pledged: "Other major stakeholders, including physicians, insurers and employers, will also be involved.'' Scott Hunter, the managing partner of Arthur Andersen in Bermuda, will serve as overall chief of the project.

Bermudian professional staff will be bolstered by the accountancy firm's health care consulting practice. It is expected the report will be completed by November of 1998.