Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 21 November 2013
203. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Health if he has undertaken an evaluation of the savings involved in the centralisation of the medical card application process; the resuts, if any, of this evaluation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49860/13]
View answerThe centralisation of the medical card scheme, which enhanced the system architecture underpinning approximately 18% of the health vote, was delivered successfully and is now being utilised by the State to deliver a more efficient and cost effective service to eligible persons.
Prior to centralisation, which commenced in 2011, some 450 staff operated medical card processing locally in 100 locations throughout the country. Following on from centralisation,150 staff operate the scheme. All local staff were permanent HSE employees and were redeployed to various frontline services as vacancies/needs arose locally following on from the voluntary retirements in the HSE. Accordingly, annual savings of approximately €9m can be attributed directly to the centralisation programme.
Now that the Medical Card Scheme is underpinned with a standard foundation, which enables better governance, more transparency and the use of efficient modern processes, the HSE continues to move ahead with additional improvements. I am satisfied that this key strategic change project has not only delivered significant savings but also delivers a more efficient, effective and economic service and it is vital to deliver future changes in the health environment.
