Michelle Mulherin (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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675. To ask the Minister for Health when the universal health care system will be introduced; the progress that has been made in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24305/13]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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The Government is embarking on a major reform programme for the health system, the aim of which is to deliver a single-tier health service, supported by universal health insurance (UHI), where access is based on need, not on income.

In February, I published The Path to Universal Healthcare, a preliminary paper on UHI which provides a comprehensive update on progress achieved to date and sets out the main actions for the road ahead (available on www.doh.ie). As outlined in that paper, many of the key building blocks for UHI have been progressed.

Of major significance is the recent Government decision to reorganise public hospitals into more efficient and accountable hospital groups that will deliver improved outcomes for patients. That decision was informed by two expert reports, namely, TheEstablishment of Hospital Groups as a Transitionto Independent Hospital Trusts and The Framework for Development - Securing the Future of Smaller Hospitals.

Other key building blocks which have been progressed include the work of the Special Delivery Unit in significantly reducing waiting times for scheduled and unscheduled care; the enactment of the Health Insurance (Amendment) Act 2012 providing for a new scheme of risk equalisation for the private health insurance market; the delivery of a 'Money Follows the Patient' policy which was published in February and which provides for a fairer and more transparent means of funding healthcare, and the approval of national healthcare standards and ongoing work in relation to supporting licensing legislation.

The Department is currently undertaking detailed work in relation to the preparation of a White Paper on Universal Health Insurance. Broadly, this involves the development of detailed policy proposals covering issues such as the design of the UHI model, the scope and composition of the UHI basket of services and funding and financial support mechanisms for UHI.

A special UHI Design Team has recently been set up to oversee and support the work involved in the design of the UHI model and the preparation of the White Paper on Universal Health Insurance. The work involved in UHI design is both complex and technical and, as a consequence, the Design Team will be supported by specialised expertise at appropriate junctures. To this end, the Department has recently engaged legal expertise to assist in deliberations in this area. Work on the development of detailed policy proposals is proceeding with a view to publishing the White Paper as early as possible.

The reform programme is a major undertaking that requires careful planning and sequencing over a number of years and full implementation of UHI will take some time to achieve. I anticipate that by 2016 the necessary groundwork will be in place to enable us to phase in implementation of UHI, as promised in the Programme for Government. I should add that it is my intention to consult widely as part of the reform implementation process.