Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 99: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the average cost of each treatment under the national treatment purchase fund; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36946/10]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Independent)
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The overall average cost of inpatients treated under NTPF during 2009 was €3,833. The comparable price year to date in 2010 is €3,402.

The Fund negotiates with hospitals individually seeking discounts where higher-volume work is concerned. If satisfactory prices cannot be agreed with a particular treating hospital it is NTPF policy to source treatment elsewhere.

The Comptroller and Auditor General's Report for 2008 examined the NTPF's arrangements for the procurement of treatment. The Report concluded "The examination suggests that, relative to the casemix benchmark, procedures purchased from private hospitals by the NTPF generally cost less than those carried out in the publicly funded hospital system".