Bermuda's healthcare system is an example many countries would like to be able to follow, luncheon guests were told this weekend.

And the vice president of US-based Kellogg Foundation, Dr. Gloria Smith, told a gathering of nurses and health officials that, as a small country with a heritage of quality service, other parts of the world could learn much and aspire to the Island's level of health care.

One of the featured speaker at the public health week luncheon at the Sonesta Beach Resort Hotel, Dr. Smith added, that unfortunately progress had not been even across the world.

"This Island has a very high standard of living, with the result that access to health care is almost unparalled in the US,'' she said. "There are many people who think what you have is where they would like to be. There could be an opportunity for other parts of the world to benefit from your experience -- I hope you will keep that in mind.'' Dr. Smith, who has worked in promoting health care, especially to poorer regions across the globe, said the Bermuda example was, in a sense, a laboratory for health care where the problems encountered are connected with affluence.

Healthcare is undergoing massive change not only in Bermuda, but across the world, with the main imperative being cost control.

And increasingly, she said, access to basic health service is becoming inaccessible to certain sectors of the community -- not only in poor regions but also in developed countries such as the US. Meanwhile decisions effecting the future health care are being made far removed from the public, thus sectors of the community find themselves `becoming even more disconnected' from those policies.

One answer would be to involve communities in the decision-making process, so that health care is formed through a partnership, said Dr. Smith.

"Health improvement strategies must recognise that investing in human capital will reap massive economic rewards,'' she said.

Dr. Smith highlighted particular health issues, including HIV/Aids and women's health which, she said, directly impacted on the health of the family and their well-being.

Investing in people and allowing communities to become involved in the health care decision-making is paramount in facilitating rewards in growth and prosperity, she said.

The Kellogg Foundation helps people to help themselves through providing grants and funding for community-based health projects.

HEALTH HTH