Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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426. To ask the Minister for Health his views that the conclusion reached in the report published by the European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies, entitled Health System responses to financial pressures here, that it is unlikely that the health policy objectives set out in the programme for Government can be met without an increase in the level of statutory resources; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5685/15]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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The Government has embarked 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, where access is based on need, not income.The White Paper on Universal Health Insurance(UHI) was published on 2nd April 2014 and provides detailed information on the UHI model for Ireland.

When I became Minister for Health, I reviewed our progress to date and the timescales for implementing very important reforms, including UHI. I concluded that it would not be possible to introduce a full UHI system by 2019, as envisaged in the White Paper. However, I want to emphasise my commitment to implementing reforms. In particular, I want to push ahead with key reforms in areas such as extending free GP care on a phased basis, improving the management of chronic diseases, implementing key financial reforms, including activity-based funding, and establishing hospital groups. As well as representing critical building blocks for the future health system, they are also important reforms in their own right that will drive efficiencies and bring benefits in advance of moving to a system of universal healthcare.

With regard to the introduction of universal GP care, €37 million has been provided for the first and second phases of this initiative this year, which is intended to provide GP care without fees to all children aged under 6 and to all persons aged 70 years and over by Quarter 2 2015, subject to the conclusion of discussions between the Department of Health, the HSE and the IMO.

Finally with regard to the wider issue of the statutory resources required to deliver UHI, my Department is undertaking a major costing exercise, in conjunction with the ESRI, the Health Insurance Authority and others. This exercise will estimate the cost of UHI for individuals/households and the Exchequer. I expect to have the initial results from this exercise in April, following which I will revert to Government with a roadmap on the next steps to UHI.