asked the Minister for Health if he has yet taken any decision as to how to finance the health services in the country; and, in the general practitioner service envisaged by the white paper, if they will be financed (a) by capitation or (b) by fee for service.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Financing of Health Services.
51.
The general question of the sources of finance for the health services in the future is being considered by the Government: its decision will be announced in due course.
The method of payment of doctors under the reorganised general medical service is one of the questions under discussion with the profession. I am not yet in a position to indicate a decision on it but would point out that capitation and fee-for-service are not necessarily clear alternatives, as the Deputy's question might suggest.
Could the Minister state when he will be likely to be able to give a decision on these two questions? He will appreciate that the question of financing health services is an extremely important one owing to the heavy imposition on the rates.
Certainly before the arrangements for the financing of them next year the announcement will be made.
Does that mean before 1st April?
Of this year?
Yes.
No.
In other words, it will be 15 months? The people would be interested to know the date.
The Deputy knows it is very hard to announce a date. I am not totally responsible for the ultimate decision.
Not a firm date.
About six months. As soon as possible as far as I am concerned.
Is the Minister aware of the announcement made by the then Minister for Education, in March, 1965, that the health rate would be pegged? Has the Minister any statement to make on that in view of the fact that rates are increasing from 3/-to 5/- in the £ in every county in Ireland? Do the Government intend to honour that promise?
They were pegged in the following year.
(Cavan): They broke away from the peg again.
Is the Minister aware that county managers and health authorities were led to believe that they were to be pegged from that date?
They believed that, did they?
They were led to believe it. Could you get us the banner headlines that were in the Irish Press on the next day?