Health officials say new prostate cancer treatment unavailable in the United States has brought 200 “medical tourists” as well as their families and doctors to the Island since being introduced at King Edward VII Memorial Hospital nine months ago.

And BHB says High Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU) could become one of a number of procedures taking place under the medical tourism bracket, a concept Premier Paula Cox has said could help the economy.

But Shadow Health Minister Louise Jackson warns adopting practices not accepted in the US could shatter Bermuda’s international reputation.

Asked about medical tourism in Bermuda, a BHB spokeswoman told The Royal Gazette: “The Bermuda Hospitals Board is actively exploring integrating medical tourism opportunities with our current patient services.”

She said of HIFU, a non-invasive alternative to chemotherapy which has not been approved by America’s Food and Drug Administration (FDA): “The agreement enables prostate cancer patients to travel to Bermuda to have a leading edge treatment.

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