asked the Minister for Health the total expenditure on dental services in (a) the Republic and (b) Northern Ireland by the State in 1960, 1961 and 1962.
4.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Health Services Expenditure.
3.
asked the Minister for Health the average expenditure per head of the population on health services by the State in (a) the Republic (b) Northern Ireland and (c) Great Britain in 1960, 1961 and 1962.
5.
asked the Minister for Health the total expenditure per head of the population on drugs and medicines by the State in 1960, 1961 and 1962 in (a) the Republic, (b) Northern Ireland and (c) Great Britain.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to reply to Questions Nos. 3 to 5 together.
To furnish the information in the form requested would be grossly misleading since the nature of the health services in this State differs from that in the other territories mentioned, in relation to which, of course, the Minister for Health in this State has no responsibilities. Further, to cite the average expenditure per head of the population on a particular service when the whole population is not entitled to that service would be meaningless.
I presume that when the Deputy speaks of "expenditure by the State" he has in mind expenditure from local authority sources as well as expenditure from the Exchequer. The reply has been prepared on that basis.
Accounts of expenditure in the present context are not prepared on the basis of calendar years but on the basis of financial years, ending on 31st March. Figures for the calendar years are not available and consequently the figures I propose to quote are those for the financial years nearest to the calendar years mentioned in the questions.
The total of expenditure on health services from State and local funds was £20.020 millions in 1960/61, £22.352 millions in 1961/62 and £24.100 millions in 1962/63.
In regard to expenditure on drugs and medicines, when a health authority sends a patient to a voluntary hospital for treatment, it pays the approved capitation rate. This rate includes an element, but not a specific sum for these commodities. The accounts of the voluntary hospitals do not distinguish between drugs and medicines supplied to Health Act patients and those supplied to noneligible patients. Consequently, the figures available for State expenditure on drugs and medicines understate the true position by the amount of the cost of these items supplied to eligible patients in this class of hospital. The available figures are as follows:—
|
1960/61 |
£ 916,000 |
|
1961/62 |
£1,074,000 |
|
1962/63 |
£1,188,000 |
Expenditure on dental services was £437,000 in 1960/61, £537,000 in 1961/62 and £557,000 in 1962/63.
All the foregoing figures are subject to adjustment on audit.