Vol. 564 No. 5
255 Mr. Hogan asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of patients treated under the national treatment purchase fund in 2002; the finance which was allocated to this scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9546/03]
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 NTPF initiative in 2002. Since the NTPF commenced arranging treatments approximately 3,400 patients, who have been waiting longest, have received treatment.
The provisional out-turn for the NTPF in 2002, as published in the Revised Estimates Volume, was €5.012 million. Funding of some €31 million has been provided for the NTPF in 2003 for what will be the first full year of operation of the fund.
