MPs clashed on Friday in a row over the cost of health care.

And Transport Minister Ewart Brown -- a doctor -- blasted Opposition statements made in the House of Assembly last week about physician-owned lab and testing facilities.

UBP MPs said that doctors could be tempted to over-prescribe their own services to boost income -- although they said it may not happen.

But Dr. Brown -- who also provides in-house testing services at his practice -- said: "It's not a conflict of interest -- it's an integrity challenge.'' He spoke out despite Opposition claims he was breaking House rules by revisiting a debate concluded last week -- but Speaker Stanley Lowe ruled Dr.

Brown could go ahead.

And he tore into Shadow Health and Family Services Minister Kim Young, whose family business includes pharmacies.

Dr. Brown said: "The issue of testing was never raised in this House when the testing was done by white doctors.'' He added that Mrs. Young and husband Ward, who own the Phoenix chain, offered discounts to doctors on certain prescription drugs.

But that claim was later rejected by Mr. Young, who said: "There are absolutely no discounts to any doctor -- unless they're over 65, then they get a discount of ten percent like any other senior citizen.'' Mr. Young added: "There used to be an arrangement among pharmacies years ago that certain discounts were given to doctors.

"But I made sure when I took over the retail stores that that was done away with.

"The Government seems to live in the past and that's something which occurred in the past -- it's time to move on.'' The issue of the impact of the growth in the private medical services sector on the spiralling cost of health care was raised in a House debate last week.

Dr. Brown accused the Phoenix chain of charging "outrageous, unregulated'' prices for drugs -- which he said was a factor in increasing health costs.

And he claimed one 30 pill course was $47 in Phoenix, but $30 elsewhere.

He added the same blood test cost $90 at a private lab -- and $400 at the hospital.

Mr. Young challenged Dr. Brown to name the course of drugs he cited -- and pledged to do something about it if it was proven to be true.

Shadow Finance Minister Grant Gibbons -- who originally spoke of the temptation to over-prescribe -- insisted the issue was not a racial one.

He said: "The issue of physician conflict of interest is something which was raised in the US many years ago.'' And he added a major probe into Bermuda health care by accountants Arthur Andersen also raised the topic.

Dr. Gibbons said: "I wish the Honourable Member would tell me that the rules in many states in the US against physician-owned diagnostic facilities were put in for racial reasons. I don't think they were.

"There are probably more white doctors in the United States than there are black doctors.'' And he said the likely 12 percent of Gross Domestic Product which goes to health care in Bermuda was probably higher than in the US.

Telecommunications Minister Renee Webb insisted that Mr. Young's business controlled 95 percent of the prescription drugs business.

And she added: "If you're talking about the cost of health care in Bermuda, let's talk about the cost of drugs as well.'' But Mr. Young said his business had less than half of the pharmaceuticals business in Bermuda.

He added: "I don't know the statistics -- but we certainly haven't got the majority of the business.'' And he said: "Prescription drugs only account for up to 12 percent of the total cost of health care -- the price of hospital beds is the major contributor to the cost.'' He added his firm was "making a big effort'' to reduce the cost of prescription drugs.

And he said: "I find it very strange that an MP and member of the medical profession would use the floor of the House to chastise a business.'' DISCRIMINATION DIS HEALTH HTH