Mr. Paul Bolger:

There is a commissioning team in the NTPF and we do not get into comparing the various prices. The NTPF has prices which come through from the health purchasing office. It does not get block funding, as there would be for a public institution, but uses the same model as applies to treatment in the private sector. It agrees a price with a hospital and pays that price when it is satisfied that the treatment is undertaken. This provides a richer source of information for the NTPF to challenge prices. It does not take on all tenders that come through and has, at times, been unwilling to fund a particular procedure in a particular location if it is outside acceptable price limits. It has tight controls to ensure it gets the best value for money.