Bernard Allen
Question:101 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Health and Children if the national health strategy will be completed and published by July 2001. [16383/01]
Written Answers. - National Health Strategy.
My Department is working intensively on the preparation of a new health strategy. The overall approach to the strategy is being guided by a steering group comprising top management of the Department, chief executive officers of health boards and representatives of the Department of the Taoiseach and the Department of Finance. In addition, a project team with an experienced Departmental and health board membership is responsible for co-ordinating the work and preparing a final draft of the strategy.
I have established a series of working groups to make recommendations on key themes that will inform the strategy, such as those relating to funding, eligibility, service delivery and human resources, e-health, health promotion-population health, quality, futures and the interface between voluntary and statutory providers. There are also groups dealing with primary care and the public-private mix of health care services.
I have initiated a wide-ranging consultation process in relation to the strategy. This involves representatives of all of the key stakeholders in a broadly based National Consultative Forum, as well as targeted consultations with members of the public, staff of the health services, health boards and other agencies. In addition to its deliberations in plenary sessions, the National Consultative Forum has been working in individual sub-groups, advising on the themes that are currently being considered by the working groups.
The next plenary session of the National Consultative Forum will take place at a special two day meeting on 10 and 11 July. By that stage, I anticipate that the major issues and themes proposed for the new strategy will be ready for consideration by the forum. The final draft of the strategy will then be finalised as quickly as possible and I will submit it to Government for approval before publication.