Written answers

Thursday, 30 June 2011

5:00 am

Photo of Billy KelleherBilly Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 15: To ask the Minister for Health the steps he has taken since his appointment to address waste and inefficiency in the health system in order to finance his plans for universal health insurance. [17887/11]

Photo of Timmy DooleyTimmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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Question 29: To ask the Minister for Health if he has established a universal health insurance commission as previously committed to within the first 30 days of Government. [17891/11]

Photo of Barry CowenBarry Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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Question 41: To ask the Minister for Health when he will publish estimated costs for the implementation of free general practitioner care and universal health insurance. [17890/11]

Photo of James ReillyJames Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 15, 29 and 41 together.

The Government is embarking on a major reform programme for the health system. The aim of this reform is to deliver a single-tier health service that will deliver equal access to care based on need, not income.

While universal health insurance is the ultimate destination of this Government's reform programme, there are a number of important stepping stones along the way and each of these will play a critical role in improving our health service in advance of the introduction of universal health insurance.

A key immediate priority is the establishment of the Special Delivery Unit (SDU) which I announced on the 1st of June. The purpose of the SDU is to tackle hospital system inefficiencies and unblock access to acute services by dramatically improving the flow of patients through the system and by streamlining waiting lists. The SDU's priorities will encompass reducing the waiting times for admission to Emergency Departments, reduction in in-patient and out-patient waiting times and improved access to diagnostics.

I have appointed Dr Martin Connor, an international expert, to head up the SDU. His principal task will be to build up the SDU and to prepare proposals on how best it can be placed on a permanent footing within the next six months. The resources of the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) will be refocused to align with the work of the SDU, and crucially, will allow for a progressive improvement in the performance of the nation's hospitals.

A further fundamental element in the reform process involves significant strengthening of primary care services to deliver universal primary care with the removal of cost as a barrier to access for patients. This commitment will be achieved on a phased basis to allow for the recruitment of additional doctors, nurses and other primary care professionals. The specific cost of free GP care will be contingent upon a number of factors including a new GP contract. My Department, in consultation with the HSE, is progressing proposals for this new contract.

Reform of the funding system for hospital care is also necessary. This will involve the introduction of a more transparent and efficient "Money Follows the Patient" funding mechanism and the introduction of a purchaser / provider split, whereby hospitals will be established as independent, not for profit trusts.

Other important initiatives which will prepare the system for universal health insurance include the establishment of a new risk equalisation scheme for the private health insurance market, and the financial restructuring and authorisation of the Voluntary Health Insurance Board. I commissioned a report in April on the opportunities for rebalancing risk in the private health insurance market. This report will be submitted to me by the end of July 2011. In addition, I have asked the Health Insurance Authority, as the regulator of the private health insurance market, to examine the issue of provider costs in the market and to revert to me within one month on this issue.

The Government is committed to the publication of a White Paper on Financing Universal Health Insurance which will outline the estimated costs associated with the introduction of universal health insurance. However, it must be emphasised that the precise cost of universal health insurance will significantly depend on the success of reform measures, such as those outlined above, over the next 3-4 years.

Finally, I can confirm that the Government has given approval for an Implementation Group on Universal Health Insurance. I am currently finalising details of the Implementation Group and I will announce these in due course.

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