Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 29 February 2024
291. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Health the action he will take to address the ongoing disincentive to practising medical and dental professions in Ireland due to the prohibitive cost of insurance stemming from a huge increase of clinical negligence cases; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9755/24]
View answerClinical indemnity cover in respect of clinical negligence claims occurring in public hospitals and HSE facilities and other health agencies/state authorities is provided by the State’s Clinical Indemnity Scheme (CIS). This Scheme is managed by the State Claims Agency (SCA) and is funded by the exchequer on a 'pay-as-you-go basis.'
In addition, the Caps scheme was established in 2004 and operates on the basis that the State’s Clinical Indemnity Scheme would cover claims over a certain cap (amount) against private consultants arising from adverse clinical events occurring after 1st February 2004 for work undertaken in private hospitals.
Dentists and GP’s in public practice employed directly by the HSE are covered by the CIS arrangements.
In relation to GPs, as private practitioners, they arrange professional indemnity insurance from private medical indemnity providers. This is an arrangement between the two private parties in which the Minister for Health has no role.
Most GPs hold a GMS contract with the HSE for the provision of healthcare services without charge to medical card and GP visit card holders. GPs are remunerated for these services primarily on an annual capitation basis, with a range of additional support payments and fees for specific items of service and some consultation types. Under the GMS scheme a significant contribution is also made towards participating GPs' medical indemnity insurance costs. GPs with a GMS panel of 100 patients or more can apply to the HSE for a partial refund, based on panel size, of their net indemnity insurance cost.
In May 2022, the fees paid to contractors within the Dental Treatment Services Scheme (DTSS) for adult medical card holders were substantially increased by 40-60% across most items of care. This was in recognition of the various costs of providing routine dental care to DTSS patients, including the cost of indemnity.
While SCA data shows that the number of new clinical claims being managed by the Agency has remained relatively stable, the cost to the State of funding health-related claims has been rising. In recognition of this, Government established an 'Interdepartmental Working Group to examine the rising cost of health-related claims' in January 2023. The Group is chaired independently by Dr. Rhona Mahony and is comprised of membership from across relevant Government Departments and Agencies. The work of the Group is well underway and it is expected to report early in 2024.
