Vol. 424 No. 1
59 Mr. S. Barrett asked the Minister for Health the steps he intends to take to deal with the alarming increase in the cost of medical malpractice indemnity premiums, particularly where it affects those engaged in high risk specialties in full-time private practice; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
115 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Health if the Government will introduce a self-insurance arrangement for doctors in order to reduce the loss to the Exchequer as the present cost to the Exchequer of reimbursing doctors for their medical indemnity spending is now running at well over £13 million per year.
135 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Health the total cost to his Department of medical insurance for each of the past five years; his views on the escalating costs; and the steps, if any, he intends to take in this matter.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 59, 115 and 135 together.
An interdepartmental working group is at present examining the whole area of medical indemnity including alternative methods of providing indemnity. Consultants employed in the public health service are presently reimbursed between 80 per cent-90 per cent of their medical indemnity fees. However, indemnity fees for consultants employed solely in private practice is a matter for those consultants.
A self-insurance or State indemnity scheme is one of the alternatives which has been considered by the group. However, the group is presently finalising its report and I would prefer to make no further comment on the merits of any one particular proposal until the group has reported.
The approximate annual cost of refunds of medical defence premia to my Department for the years 1987 to 1991 was £0.49 million, £0.86 million, £2.8 million, £4 million and £9 million, respectively. The estimated cost in 1992 is £14 million.
