Health Minister Zane DeSilva said new prostate cancer treatment in Bermuda’s hospital is a welcome boost for the Island’s tourism industry.

During the Budget debate on his Health Ministry yesterday, Mr DeSilva championed the move to introduce High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU) to King Edward VII Memorial Hospital.

The treatment, not allowed in the United States, is said to have generated 1,000 bed nights for Bermuda’s hotels by attracting 200 “medical tourists”, their families and doctors since being introduced nine months ago.

Mr DeSilva told the House of Assembly: “This is an example of medical tourism being positively integrated with Bermuda’s hospital services.”

The treatment has been approved in Canada and Europe, the Minister said.

“This adds to our tourism product, which is something we know we desperately need.”

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