Vol. 467 No. 7
101 Miss Quill asked the Minister for Health the amount his Department expended in 1995 for malpractice insurance cover for consultants, general practitioners, non-consultant hospital doctors, dentists and hospitals; the amount it expects to expend in this regard in 1996; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14220/96]
Limerick East): Approximately £17.5 million was paid in 1995 for medical indemnity insurance for medical consultants, general practitioners in the general medical services scheme, and those covered by the medical indemnity scheme, including non consultant hospital doctors and dentists employed in health boards, voluntary hospitals and other participating health agencies. The projected estimated medical indemnity cost in respect of these groups for 1996 is £20.6 million. The latest available information for the cost of public liability insurance incurred by health boards and voluntary hospitals is in respect of 1994 and this amounted to £4.18 million.
In view of the increasing cost of medical indemnity insurance my Department has appointed Mercer Limited on a consultancy basis to evaluate the existing medical indemnity insurance arrangements and to make recommendations on possible alternative more cost effective ways of providing this cover.
