Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 29 Jan 2003

Vol. 560 No. 1

Written Answers. - National Treatment Purchase Fund.

John Gormley

Question:

743 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of patients on waiting lists that have availed of the treatment purchase fund since it was introduced; the amount his Department has spent each year in this fund since its introduction; the breakdown of moneys spent on travelling costs of patients and their companions availing of the fund in comparison to the amount spent on medical treatment/surgical procedures for the patients; if any cost/benefit or value for money analysis has been carried out by his Department in relation to this fund since its introduction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2108/03]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Martin)

Arising from the health strategy – Quality and Fairness – A Health System For You, one of the key actions for dealing with public hospital waiting lists was the establishment of the national treatment purchase fund, NTPF. The NTPF was set up in April 2002 and referred its first patients for treatment at the end of June. A total of 1,920 patients received treatment under the national treatment purchase fund initiative in 2002.

Expenditure by the NTPF in 2002, including set up costs, amounted to €6.6 million estimated, of which €5.6 million, awaiting year-end invoices, was attributed directly to patient care and approximately €1.0 million to indirect patient care and once-off costs. Private hospitals who treat patients under this initiative are paid on the basis of an agreed price per procedure which in turn is competitive having regard to what is paid to these hospitals by medical insurers.