Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The removal of private practice from public hospitals is a core principle of Sláintecare, ensuring that public healthcare facilities are used for public patients only, and that public patients can access public hospitals based on clinical need. Currently, the Irish Public Health System provides for two categories of eligibility for persons ordinarily resident in the country, i.e. full eligibility (medical cards) and limited eligibility. However, under Section 52 of the Health Act 1970, a person may waive their eligibility to public services and opt to be treated privately. In 2022, the public and publicly funded hospitals received approximately €432 million euro in income from the private patient charge levied under section 55 of the Health Act 1970.