Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 3 Jun 1993

Vol. 431 No. 8

Written Answers. - National Health Strategy.

Pat Rabbitte

Question:

44 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Minister for Health his priorities in regard to the proposed National Health Strategy, recently announced by him; if he has satisfied himself that there is adequate information available on the health of the nation to enable a national health strategy to be devised; if not, the plans, if any, he has to compile additional information; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Minister for Health (Mr. Howlin):

The National Health Strategy, which will be published later in the year, will set out objectives and targets for the next four years, in the context of a clear statement of the philosophy behind the health services. The underlying principles will be equity, accountability and cost-effectiveness. The Strategy will be a comprehensive one, addressing the full range of health and personal social services which fall within my area of responsibility, in terms of both the services themselves and the overall organisational framework.

In the preparation of the Strategy, I have available to me a wide range of data collected at both national and health board level which serve as indicators of the health status of the population. These include, for example, statistics on life expectancy, death rates from specific causes, infant mortality rates, outcome of child health examination, incidence of infectious diseases, the uptake of specific schemes such as the Long-Term Illness Scheme, and very detailed data on hospital in-patient treatments classified by diagnosis. The Strategy itself will also address the further development and improvement of such indicators.