Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein)
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339. To ask the Minister for Health the status of any review of eligibility policy for medical services as outlined in Sláintecare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47237/21]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The development of a Citizen Care Masterplan has begun under Reform Programme 2: Addressing Health Inequalities – Toward Universal Healthcare of the recent Sláintecare Implementation Strategy & Action Plan 2021 – 2023.

The Citizen Care Masterplan aims to inform policy decision-making around equitable allocation of resources of all types and includes the development of frameworks for eligibility, population-based resource allocation, workforce planning, and capital and estates planning. 

An initial review of eligibility commitments in key policies has been completed and will inform the progression of a business case to develop policy proposals and options for achieving universal eligibility across hospital and community settings. 

The following will be considered: 

- the range of services to be provided on a universal basis 

- the rationale and methodology for eligibility/entitlement for the services, and 

- financial mechanisms and phasing.

This analysis will then inform the preferred future eligibility framework to deliver universal access to healthcare for decision by Government.