Welcome to the first edition of our Health Service Provider (HSP) Licensure Education Series. Over the coming months, we'll answer some of the most frequently asked questions to help organisations understand the regulatory framework and what it means for their health business.

For this month, we're focusing on "What is Health Service Provider Licensure?" We'll explain what licensure is, why it was introduced, and the Bermuda Health Council's role in administering the programme.

Whether you're already familiar with the legislation or just beginning to learn about it, we hope this series provides clear, practical information to support your understanding.

What is a Health Service Provider?

Under the Bermuda Health Council Act 2004, a health service provider is: “a person, group of persons or organization that operates a business offering health services to the public.”

For licensing purposes, the Health Council considers a business or organization to be a health service provider where its primary activity is the provision of health care services to the public.

The Health Council uses the System of Health Accounts (SHA) 2011 classification framework to determine whether a business falls within a recognized health service provider category and to classify it according to its principal activity.

Please refer to the Health Service Provider Classification Guide on our website for more information on this framework. 

What is Health Service Provider Licensure?

Health Service Provider Licensure is a regulatory framework designed to strengthen Bermuda's health system by establishing minimum standards for businesses that provide health services. 

While regulated healthcare professionals are individually registered, health service provider licensure focuses on the organisation or business itself. This means healthcare businesses must be licensed to ensure they operate safely, responsibly, and in accordance with established standards. 

Health Service Provider Licensure is the process through which eligible health service businesses obtain approval from the Bermuda Health Council to operate.

To obtain licensure, providers must meet criteria established by the Bermuda Health Council Act 2004 and the Bermuda Health Council (Health Service Providers)(Licensing) Regulations 2024.

Licensure helps ensure that health service providers meet standards relating to governance, quality improvement, accountability, patient safety and care.

Why was it introduced? 

The legislation was introduced to: 

• strengthen healthcare oversight  
• improve quality across the health system  
• promote consistency  
• enhance patient protection  
• support public confidence in healthcare services  

What is the Bermuda Health Council's role? 

The Bermuda Health Council is responsible for administering the licensure programme. 



This includes: 

• assessing license applications
• supporting providers throughout the process  
• monitoring compliance  
• helping ensure licensed providers continue meeting required standards  

Key Takeaways

Looking Ahead - Next month, we'll answer another frequently asked question: "Who Needs a Licence?" Stay tuned as we continue exploring the Health Service Provider licensure framework and what it means for Bermuda's healthcare community.