Jerry Cowley (Mayo, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 284: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the way a private ambulance company can obtain a registration form for a private ambulance service from VHI taking into account that the company in question have made contact with VHI on numerous occasions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8491/07]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context

As Minister for Health and Children, I do not have any statutory or administrative role in commercial arrangements between the VHI and their suppliers when such arrangements comply with the provisions of the Health Insurance Acts and related regulations.

However, my Department having had enquiries made of the VHI has been informed that the company carried out a selection process in Autumn 2005 for inclusion in its Directory of Private Ambulance Providers. This Directory is valid until 30th June 2007 and was closed to new applicants following its publication on 1st January 2006. In addition to the above, Private Ambulance Companies who have made enquiries since the publication of the current Directory have been advised that they will be invited to apply for inclusion on the 2007-2008 VHI health care Private Ambulance Directory. This Directory will take effect from 1st July 2007. The VHI will be writing to all known private ambulance providers and placing an advertisement in the National Press outlining the process.