Michael D. Higgins
Question:11 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Health and Children when he will publish the long awaited White Paper on health insurance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13972/99]
Other Questions. - Private Health Insurance.
The Deputy will appreciate that the proposed White Paper will represent the first comprehensive policy statement regarding the operation of the Irish private health insurance system. It has involved looking at the whole regulatory framework, the restructuring of the VHI, legislative arrangements and our responsibilities under EU directives to facilitate the operation of a competitive market. This has entailed a significant amount of research, analysis and work of considerable complexity. There has also been extensive consultation with the range of interests involved in private health insurance and private health care provision. Although 15 May 1998 was the latest date set for the presentation of submissions on the White Paper, my Department accepted a number after that date and has had discussions with interested parties up to recently.
The position regarding publication of the White Paper is that drafting has now been completed and formal consultations with other Departments, prior to its submission to Government, are in progress. Subject to the conclusion of this process, I hope to be in a position to bring the White Paper to Government in June. At that stage it will be a matter for Government to decide its position on the proposals being put forward and on publication.
Did the Minister say he would bring it to Cabinet in June?
I hope so.
I thank the Minister for that assurance. We have been waiting a long time for what is a very important White Paper. Will it deal with access to hospitals? Is the Minister aware that 44 per cent of people are in private health insurance schemes and that one of the main reasons they enter these schemes is to access hospital beds? Will the White Paper deal with the accessing of beds as a result of having private health insurance ahead of public patients, or will it be excluded from it altogether?
The White Paper will deal with the issues that relate specifically to the private medical insurance system as it operates in Ireland. We need a more competitive system, one that has a modern regulatory framework, one that will enhance competition and which will ensure the core values of private health care are enshrined in any new set up which includes community rating, open enrolment and lifetime cover. It also involved looking at the restructuring of the VHI and its subscribers to avoid the prospect of inexorable increases in premia because of medical inflation and other factors, such as the impact of technology on modern medicine, etc.
Another issue in the health care system and one which the Government is addressing to a far greater extent than any of its predecessors is the need to improve public capital programmes in the public hospital system. This is precisely what we have been doing. Over the next three years £525 million will go into the public hospital system by way of a capital programme, the most intensive hospital investment programme in the history of the State.
We need to address all the issues. What the White Paper is about is reforming the VHI and the private health care systems so that there is a competitive system for the future that will give choice.