asked the Minister for Health if he will make a statement regarding figures given to the former Dáil Committee on Public Expenditure by officials of his Department stating that Departmental studies and ways of improving health services without incurring additional costs have been in train for some time; whether these have been completed; and if not, if he will provide a summary of these studies to date.
Written Answers. - Studies on Health Care Services.
71.
My Department has already carried out several studies with the general object of securing better value for the money spent by the State on health care services. Where relevant, the findings of such studies have been communicated to the appropriate authorities. I have also set up in my Department a cost containment and efficiency unit with a brief to explore ways and means of achieving greater cost-effectiveness in the health services, particularly in relation to non-pay expenditure. A pilot project, including representatives of health board and voluntary hospitals, has already been started by this unit in the area of medical and surgical supplies purchasing. By providing a greater level of information to health care institutions on matters such as price and quality it is expected that significant savings can be achieved in this area.