Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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Question 86: To ask the Minister for Health and Children her views on the recent report of the Committee of Public Accounts on aspects of the delivery of health services; if she will, in particular, ensure more transparency in the operations of the National Treatment Purchase Fund in order that its value for money can be properly assessed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45500/08]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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I welcome the Third Interim Report on the 2006 Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General — Expenditure on Health Services — recently published by the Committee of Public Accounts. A number of the Report's recommendations relating to matters such as the hospital consultants' contract, the HSE's utilisation of assets and its financial management systems are already the subject of action by my Department, the HSE or other relevant bodies. The other recommendations will be the subject of examination and follow-up as appropriate.

The Report commented on certain aspects of the operation of the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF), including value for money. The Fund compares the prices which it pays with treatment costs in public hospitals and, where known, the prices being paid by health insurers to private hospitals. The financial statements of the Fund are subject to audit by the Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General (C&AG) on an annual basis. The Committee of Public Accounts noted that the C&AG has access to information (which cannot be disclosed publicly because it is commercially sensitive) about the prices paid by the NTPF for procedures undertaken in private hospitals. The Committee noted also that the C&AG has agreed to carry out a review of these areas as part of his continuing audit of the NTPF's expenditure.

I am committed to ensuring that the NTPF achieves maximum value for money so that as many public patients as possible can benefit from treatment through the Fund. This issue will therefore continue to be the subject of attention in the context of my Department's oversight and monitoring role in relation to the NTPF.