Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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1257. To ask the Minister for Health the reason day-case private patients in public hospitals receive oncology drugs for a per diem statutory charge of €407 or €329 depending on the type of hospital in view of the fact that the day case drug cost is an average €1,500 per person; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27603/17]

Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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1258. To ask the Minister for Health the reason the full cost of oncology drugs provided to day-case private patients in public hospitals cannot be charged to the health insurance companies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27604/17]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1257 and 1258 together.

The Health (Amendment) Act 2013 prescribes the charges applicable to private patients treated in public hospitals. Private patients are liable for a daily charge rather than a case-based charge for specific treatment and the charges differ depending on (i) whether the patient was an in-patient or daycase (ii) the category of hospital in which treatment was received and (iii) whether the patient was accommodated in a single or multiple occupancy room.

The setting of the charges for private patients is informed by the calculation of the average cost per bedday for each hospital category, which takes account of the cost of, non-consultant doctors, nursing, administration and support staff, diagnostic services (such as x-rays and other scans), medical and surgical supplies (including medicines), operating theatres, laboratory services (such as blood tests etc.), capital costs. The private in-patient charges are intended to go towards meeting these costs.

Since 2014, a case-based funding model for public hospital care, called Activity Based Funding, has been implemented on a phased basis. It is the Government's intention in due course to develop policy proposals for the introduction of a case-based charging system for private patients in public hospitals. Significant policy work on this model will be required given the complexity and breadth of issues to be examined and addressed.