Written answers

Tuesday, 20 February 2007

Department of Health and Children

Health Insurance

10:00 am

Photo of John GormleyJohn Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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Question 203: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if she has read the report from the Adelaide Hospital Group regarding the introduction of universal health insurance; her views on whether such a system would end the two tier system; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6294/07]

Photo of Mary HarneyMary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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I have seen the report produced by the Adelaide Society recommending the introduction of a universal health insurance scheme. The report makes a very welcome contribution to the debate on the best way to finance our healthcare needs. The Adelaide Society is to be congratulated on taking the initiative and producing such a report. Previous Governments have examined the question of moving from a healthcare system financed from general taxation to one funded by universal health insurance or universal social insurance. These Governments came to the conclusion that we should continue to finance healthcare from general taxation.

This Government is committed to ensuring that patients with similar needs are treated equally and while I agree that we need to have a debate on the issues raised in the Adelaide report, I believe that our priority now is to consolidate the reform process which is already in train.

In this regard, work is underway on a new legislative framework to provide for clear statutory provisions on eligibility and entitlement for health and personal social services. The aim is to produce a clear set of statutory provisions that ensure equity and transparency and to bring the system up to date with developments in service delivery and technology that have occurred since the Health Act 1970.

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