David Cullinane
Question:1619. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost of removing all private healthcare from public hospitals. [29853/22]
View answerDáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 14 June 2022
1619. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost of removing all private healthcare from public hospitals. [29853/22]
View answer1620. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost of removing the private health insurance advantage from public hospitals. [29854/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1619 and 1620 together.
The removal of private practice from public hospitals is a core principle of Sláintecare, ensuring that public healthcare facilities are used for public patients only, and that public patients can access public hospitals based on clinical need. The de Buitléir Report estimated that the income from private activity was approximately €524 million in 2018 and that the additional public activity which would happen if private activity was no longer occurring in public hospitals would generate additional statutory public charges of up to €52 million. The report can be found at the following link assets.gov.ie/26529/aed7ee0317ff49a7a609974772cf2191.pdf.