Jerry Cowley (Mayo, Independent)
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Question 183: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if she intends to invest to a greater extent in cardiovascular health services following research which found that Ireland spends the second lowest proportion of its health care budget on heart and circulatory diseases in the enlarged EU; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30248/06]

Seán Power (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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The research to which the Deputy refers is the study into the 'Economic burden of cardiovascular diseases in the enlarges EU'; by Leal J, Luengo-Fernández R, Gray A, Petersen S and Rayner M. European Heart Journal, doi: 10. 1093 / eurheartj/ ehi733.

As was stated in a previous answer to this question, the authors set out to provide an estimate of the economic costs of cardiovascular disease for EU countries. It was unclear how some of these costs were estimated and given that the authors may have underestimated the true costs in Ireland, there are question marks about the accuracy of the overall findings as they relate to this country.

The Cardiovascular Health Strategy — Building Healthier Hearts — was launched in 1999. The report makes recommendations about the prevention, treatment and surveillance of coronary heart disease across a number of sectors and the full range of health service activities, in health promotion, primary care, pre-hospital care, acute hospital services and cardiac rehabilitation.

Since 2000 this Government has committed over €63 million towards the implementation of the Strategy. This funding has supported a wide range of new regional services and initiatives, which have had a measurable impact on the diagnosis and treatment of patients with heart disease. More than 800 new posts have been created, including 19 additional consultant cardiology posts.

Significant progress has been made in addressing the key challenges in the implementation of the Strategy in relation to improving population health, ensuring equitable access to services and improving the quality of services. I understand the HSE review of the Cardiovascular Health Strategy is progressing as set out in the service plan for 2006 and my Department will continue to monitor this review.