Bernard Durkan
Question:639. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health to set out his vision for the future of the public health service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21359/16]
View answerTuesday, 12 July 2016
Questions (639)
Written answers
The Programme for a Partnership Government makes clear its commitment to universal healthcare. In particular, the Programme states that efforts to increase access to safe, timely care as close to patients’ homes as possible is a priority for Government.
I fully support the goal of universal healthcare. I have already said that universal healthcare cannot be achieved overnight. Rather, it must be viewed as a direction of travel involving a step-by-step approach to implementing key initiatives that pave the way to universal healthcare.
Among the key building blocks for universal healthcare are:
- the strengthening of primary care and improved management of chronic diseases;
- the introduction of more efficient payment systems such as activity-based funding;
- the creation of Hospital Groups and Community Healthcare Organisations;
- implementing Healthy Ireland;
- the introduction of a wide-ranging package of patient safety reforms;
- strengthening ICT, and
- the maintenance of a vibrant and sustainable health insurance market.
Work is progressing on these various initiatives, including the introduction of GP care without fees for children under the age of 6 years and all people aged 70 years and over. As well as representing major building blocks for universal healthcare, they comprise important initiatives in their own right with the potential to drive performance improvement and deliver significant benefits in terms of timely access to high quality care.
I was particularly pleased with the recent establishment of the All Party Oireachtas Committee on the Future of Healthcare, as set out in the Programme for a Partnership Government to develop a single long-term vision for healthcare over a 10 year period with cross party agreement. My Department will assist and advise the Committee, as appropriate.