asked the Minister for Health if he will state in terms of 1977 prices, the cost of extending (a) the general medical service and (b) free hospital care to the entire population.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Hospital and Medical Costs.
20.
The extension of these services to the entire population. would involve a number of factors, the cost effects of which cannot easily be quantified. Any estimates at this stage must therefore be regarded as speculative. Bearing this reservation in mind, it is estimated that the cost of extending the general medical service might be of the order of £60 million. In so far as hospital services are concerned, it is estimated that the cost of extending free hospital care to the entire population would be of the order of £17 million upwards. This estimate, however, is subject to a number of variables which are very difficult to quantify.