John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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Question 40: To ask the Minister for Health when he expects to publish the While Paper on universal health insurance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24295/12]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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The Government is committed to fundamental reform of healthcare in Ireland that will deliver a single tier health system, supported by universal health insurance, where access is based on need, not income.

A number of key stepping stones are vital to the introduction of universal health insurance. Significant work is already underway on these, including:

· strengthening the primary care sector to deliver universal primary care with the removal of cost as a barrier;

· reform of the acute hospital sector, including the work of the Special Delivery Unit (SDU) to unblock access to acute services and the establishment of hospital groups; and

· the introduction of the more transparent and efficient "Money Follows the Patient" funding mechanism for acute hospitals.

When these key building blocks have been put in place, the health system will be ready for universal health insurance.

In February, I established an Implementation Group on Universal Health Insurance which will assist in developing detailed implementation plans for universal health insurance and driving implementation of various elements of the health reform programme. The initial work of the Group will focus on key workstreams, including hospital financing, hospital structures, regulation of the hospital sector, reform of the private health insurance market and the overarching design of the universal health insurance system.

The Group will also assist my Department in preparing a White Paper on Financing Universal Health Insurance, which will outline the estimated costs and financing mechanisms associated with the introduction of universal health insurance.

Preparation of the White Paper is a complex and important process. It will involve significant analysis of pricing and funding mechanisms, and substantial financial modelling to support different design options. It will also need to estimate the costs of UHI under different scenarios. The White Paper will be published as early as possible within the Government's term of office.