Sean Barrett (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 5:

In page 5, line 5, after "(4)", to insert the following:"and international and other cost data on average length of stay in hospital, cost efficiencies in the health service including drug costs, and the publication of the observations of the Health Information and Quality Authority on such data".

As we are moving towards this model of leaving the issue of older people on the side and trying to get value for money, should we insist that the companies could make only a reasonable profit, not have excess costs and take into account international cost data relating to average length of stay? The Minister pointed out that it is declining in the public sector and increasing in the private sector. Should we also insist on cost efficiencies, including drugs costs, and the publication of the observations of the Health Information and Quality Authority on such data?

We are moving towards that model in general. We got some advance notice from the Department of the preparation of health indicators. However, we could know whether this is not an excess cost market and could have some control over its operators so that they at least notify us when they keep people beyond the average length of stay and have a drug cost base which is excessive. What I have in mind is for the Health Information and Quality Authority to afford the Minister some support in that it has the qualifications to know if people have been kept in hospital for excessively long periods of time to drive up the bill to the VHI and allow all the other health insurance companies to follow up that cost. I think "backstop" is the word currently used to ensure that we do not end up funding an excessively expensive health insurance industry.