Pat Cox
Ceist:32 Mr. Cox asked the Minister for Health the cost to his Department arising from payment by the public hospitals of the cost of medical defence insurance premiums on behalf of consultants and surgeons who work in public hospitals.
Written Answers. - Medical Indemnity Costs.
Alan Shatter
Ceist:64 Mr. Shatter asked the Minister for Health the steps, if any, he proposes to take with regard to the large insurance payments payable for medical indemnity cover to the Medical Defence Union by self-employed ophthalmologists; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the current annual payment exceeds £16,000; and the position with regard to discussions taking place between his Department and the Irish Hospital Consultants Association to deal with this problem.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 32 and 64 together.
I am aware of the problems arising from the escalating cost of providing medical indemnity. The interim report of the inter-departmental working group which was established to examine these problems will be presented to me shortly. I will consider the recommendations contained in that report before deciding on any particular course of action.
However, my primary concern is the cost of providing indemnity cover for consultants employed in the public health service. The provision of indemnity for self-employed consultants or consultants engaged solely in private practice is a matter between those consultants and their medical defence organisations.
This matter has been brought to my attention by various organisations, including the Irish Hospital Consultants Association. Some possible solutions suggested by them are being examined by the inter-departmental working group.
The cost to my Department of providing medical indemnity to hospital consultants in 1992 was approximately £9 million.