Vol. 562 No. 6
76 Mr. Cuffe asked the Minister for Health and Children the way in which the State will save ?100 million of taxpayers' money through the introduction of the enterprise liability scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6743/03]
Following the introduction of the clinical indemnity scheme, based on the principle of enterprise liability, health boards, hospitals and other agencies covered by the scheme are no longer required to purchase insurance cover for medical malpractice. The medical indemnity scheme through which insurance cover was purchased for NCHDs, public health doctors, health board dentists and other salaried doctors has been terminated. In due course health boards will no longer be required to reimburse 80% to 90% of the cost of consultants' indemnity cover. The total expenditure on these arrangements has been estimated to be in the range of €80 million to €100 million in a full year. However, these savings will be progressively eroded in future years as the cost of meeting claims is progressively met by the State.
