Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 26 May 2004
87 Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health and Children the way the withdrawal from certain categories of medical insurance here by the Medical Defence Union will affect our health services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15572/04]
View answerThe recent announcement by the Medical Defence Union that it will not be offering its consultant members in Ireland an insurance policy which underwrites their professional indemnity cover is not expected to have any effect on the provision of health services here. Historically, the Medical Defence Union and the Medical Protection Society did not offer their members a conventional insurance policy. What they did provide was discretionary professional indemnity cover under which members could apply for assistance in dealing with personal injury claims taken against them.
In April 2001, the Medical Defence Union decided to offer its Irish consultant members, with the exception of consultant obstetricians, an insurance policy issued by Eagle Star Insurance Company (Ireland) Limited. It has now been reported that from 1 July of this year the Medical Defence Union will revert to offering its consultant members discretionary cover.
