This article was featured on The Bermudian. Discover more about our work over the years. Click here to read the full article on The Bermudian.

Healthcare is something most of us think about when we need it. A doctor’s appointment, a prescription, an insurance claim, a visit to the hospital or find the right service for a family member.

Behind all of those experiences is a much bigger system, with healthcare professionals, providers, insurers, Government, regulators and community organisations all playing a role.

The Bermuda Health Council is one of the organisations working behind the scenes to help that system function well.

This year marks the Health Council’s 20th anniversary. Established through the Bermuda Health Council Act 2004, the Council came into operation in 2006 with a broad mandate to regulate, coordinate and enhance the delivery of health services in Bermuda.

Two decades later, that work continues to evolve as Bermuda’s healthcare needs change.

So, what exactly does the Health Council do

In simple terms, the Health Council helps make sure Bermuda has a healthcare system that is safe, well regulated, accessible, and financially sustainable.

The Council is a Quasi-Autonomous Non-Governmental Organisation or QUANGO.  Its work includes, but are not limited to, regulating health services and providers, supporting standards of care, monitoring the health system, conducting research, providing information to the public and making recommendations to Government on health-related matters.

Its responsibilities cover a lot of ground. The Council registers and regulates allied health professionals, licenses health service providers and insurers, maintains health registers, regulates certain high-risk health technologies, supports the national drug formulary and regulates aspects of drug pricing. It also monitors health system trends, conducts research, supports wellness and public health programmes, and provides advice and recommendations to the Minister of Health.

That broad remit reflects one simple goal: helping Bermuda have a healthcare system that works well for the people who depend on it.

Making the system work better together

Healthcare can involve a lot of moving parts. A person may see a doctor, receive a referral, visit a specialist, need diagnostic testing, require health insurance, and may need follow-up care. When those pieces are not well connected, people can experience delays, confusion, or unnecessary costs.

Coordination is therefore a big part of the Health Council’s work.

The Council works with healthcare providers, Government agencies, community organisations and other stakeholders on initiatives that support access, quality, transparency and better health outcomes.

For Tiara Carlington, Senior Programme Manager, that work starts with understanding what people need and looking at where the system can do better.

“Our role is really about looking at the health system as a whole and asking how we can make it easier for people to access the services they need. That means working with the people who provide those services, using information to understand where the gaps are and finding practical ways to improve coordination.”

That work can take many forms, from research and public education to programmes designed to improve access to services. The Council’s Helping Hub, in partnership with the Department of Health, for example, brings health and social care information together in one searchable platform, making it easier for residents and service providers to find information and connect people with support.

Quality care and a sustainable system

Quality healthcare matters, but so does the ability to sustain that care over time.

Bermuda spends hundreds of millions of dollars each year on healthcare, making it important to understand where resources are going, what driving costs are, and how the system can continue to provide quality care.

Cost containment does not mean simply spending less. It means looking carefully at how healthcare resources are used and whether the system is getting good value while maintaining appropriate standards of care.

The Health Council’s work includes monitoring health system finances and trends, price determination and fee regulation, health technology assessment, analysis of cost drivers, and pharmaceutical procurement strategy.

Dr. Ricky Brathwaite, Chief Executive Officer of the Health Council, says sustainability requires looking beyond individual parts of the system.

“A sustainable health system has to balance quality, access and affordability. Our job is to look at the evidence, understand what is driving costs and work with stakeholders on approaches that allow Bermuda to provide good care while making responsible use of the resources available to us.”

That work is increasingly important as healthcare becomes more complex, and Bermuda continues to think about how care is delivered, financed, and accessed.

A changing Health Council for a changing Bermuda

The Health Council of 2026 looks different from the organisation that first began operating in 2006.

Its functions have expanded over time, including increased responsibilities for the registration and regulation of health professionals and health service providers. The Council also produces research and health system analysis to support evidence-based decision-making.

The organisation’s current work spans health regulation, health economics, research, public health programmes, registration, system improvement and community engagement.

For residents, that can sometimes happen without much visibility. Much of the Council’s work happens behind the scenes, but it can have a direct impact on the healthcare services people use every day.

That is one reason for the Council’s 20th anniversary is an opportunity to explain its role more clearly.

We regulate. We research. We coordinate. We monitor. We inform.

But at the heart of all of that is a shared purpose: helping Bermuda build a healthcare system that serves people well today and can continue to serve them tomorrow.

Looking ahead

Twenty years is a significant milestone, but the healthcare system will continue to change.

New technologies, an ageing population, workforce needs, rising healthcare costs and changing expectations around access and quality will all shape the years ahead.

The Health Council’s role will continue to evolve with those needs.

For Bermuda, sustainability is ultimately about making sure the health system has the capacity, resources, standards and coordination needed to support residents for years to come.

And for the Health Council, the next chapter is about continuing that work with healthcare providers, professionals, Government, insurers, community organisations and residents.

After 20 years, the mission remains clear: regulate, coordinate and enhance the delivery of health services in Bermuda.

The work may happen in policy documents, research reports, regulations, registers and stakeholder meetings, but the reason behind it is much simpler.

It is about helping people get the care they need, from a health system Bermuda can rely on.

This article was featured on The Bermudian. Discover more about the our work over the years. Click here to read the full article on The Bermudian.