John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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Question 228: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the reason the health service here is following an American style rather than adopting the successful model of the Scandinavian and EU countries; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26232/05]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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The overall policy objectives for health care in Ireland were clearly set out in the health strategy quality and fairness and are based on the four principles of equity, people centredness, quality and accountability. The Irish health care system is evolving and will provide a service which will best meet the needs of people here. The health strategy indicated that the Government was committed to exploring fully the scope for the private sector to provide additional capacity and that additional capacity would be provided by a combination of public and private providers working in closer partnership.

Notwithstanding the significant additional Exchequer funded investment in health services over the past few years, there remains a gap between public expectation levels and the capacity of the public system to fully address those expectations. It is vital, therefore, that benefits associated with the input of private financing in terms of addressing issues of access to and quality of services as well as sustainability in health care be fully exploited.

In this regard, I recently issued a policy direction to the Health Service Executive aimed at freeing up additional beds for public patients in public hospitals through the development of private hospital facilities on public hospital sites. This will improve access for public patients and provide a better quality of service.