Pádraic McCormack (Galway West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 41: To ask the Minister for Health and Children when, in view of the fact that the 2004 Comptroller and Auditor General report on the National Treatment Purchase Fund did not compare the cost of treatments between the private sector and the public sector, the Comptroller and Auditor General's new report on same will be completed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20610/09]

Emmet Stagg (Kildare North, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 47: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the value for money assessments that have been carried out on the National Treatment Purchase Fund; if comparisons have been made with the cost-effectiveness of making more use of public hospital facilities and equipment as against referring patients through the NTPF; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20488/09]

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

I propose to take Questions Nos. 41 and 47 together.

I have emphasised to the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) the need for maximum cost-effectiveness in the discharge of its remit, consistent with providing safe and effective care, and I am satisfied that the Fund is aware of its responsibilities in this regard. I have also asked the NTPF, in its dealings with private hospitals, to seek even better value in the current year and the Fund indicates that it has already succeeded in negotiating reductions in the prices paid for certain high-volume procedures. The Fund has also stated that where acceptable prices cannot be agreed, it will not purchase the required service from the provider concerned.

The NTPF uses a number of benchmarks in determining whether the prices offered by private providers represent value for money. These include public hospital average casemix costs and, where known, the prices paid by private health insurers. The NTPF has undertaken a comparison of the average price it has paid for certain high-volume procedures with the public hospital average casemix cost for similar treatments. While it is not appropriate to draw a direct comparison between the price charged by a private hospital for a procedure and the average public hospital casemix cost, the NTPF indicates that for the treatments in question there is a reasonable correlation in average costs. In some cases the price paid by the NTPF was appreciably lower than the average casemix cost in the public hospital system.

The Comptroller and Auditor General operates independently of the Government and I have no function in relation to any examination which the C & AG may decide to undertake.