Future Health - A Strategic Framework for Reform of the Health Services 2012 - 2015, sets out three phases for the Health Reform Programme with the ultimate objective of introducing Universal Health Insurance, as outlined in the White Paper published last week.
Phase II of the Health Reform Programme provides for the dissolution and replacement of the Health Service Executive with the introduction of a formal purchaser/provider split, the establishment of a Healthcare Commissioning Agency and a range of provider agencies. These include Hospital Trusts and a community care structure to deliver Primary and Social Care. My Department is currently working on legislation to put these new structures in place. I intend, in the first instance, to publish a draft Scheme and Heads of Bill and bring them to the Oireachtas Committee on Health for pre-legislative scrutiny. This will be done as quickly as possible.