Vol. 538 No. 3
204 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Health and Children if he will elaborate on his statement at the IMPACT conference that it would be very difficult in the next seven years to meet the competing demands that would be contained in the new strategy review. [17718/01]
My address to the IMPACT conference does not refer specifically to competing demands in the forthcoming health strategy. However, it is clear that there are many challenges to be addressed in the strategy, each of which will bring particular difficulties.
One of my concerns for the strategy is to ensure that the people who deliver health and personal services can work in a rewarding environment that enables them to reach their full potential and make the maximum possible contribution. Inevitably, there will be challenges in ensuring that the health system responds to the many competing demands for resources that are placed upon it. I am conscious that it is the staff of the health service that faces these competing demands on a daily basis. It is important that the new health strategy should help to ensure that decisions in the health system are made transparently and on the basis of clear evidence. Only in this way can the competing demands be addressed fairly.
205 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Health and Children if he will elaborate on his statement at the IMPACT conference that the cost of meeting the target of 5,000 additional hospital beds during the next ten years and the cost of providing universal coverage would be difficult to implement in view of the cost implications. [17719/01]
A national review of bed capacity in both the acute and non-acute sectors is under way on foot of the commitment by Government in the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness. The review is being conducted by my Department in conjunction with the Department of Finance and in con sultation with the social partners. The review is primarily focused on the emerging need to increase bed capacity and to have a strategic framework in place in terms of the number of additional beds required in the short, medium and longer terms. The review is nearing completion and the findings will be submitted to the Government.
The introduction of universal medical card coverage would require a complete renegotiation of the contract with the Irish Medical Organisation. The outcome of such talks and the resultant cost implications cannot be accurately estimated.
