Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 26 Jun 2001

Vol. 539 No. 1

Written Answers. - Medical Indemnity Insurance.

John Perry

Ceist:

240 Mr. Perry asked the Minister for Health and Children the basis on which one medical defence organisation can charge obstetricians and gynaecologists £393,000 while a second medical defence organisation proposes to charge £51,600; the steps he is taking to ensure that the subscription rates being charged by the medical defence organisations for obstetric and gynaecological claims are sustainable and adequate to cover liabilities and costs in the context of the high level of obstetric claims; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18644/01]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Martin)

The two medical defence organisations have outlined in statements to the media the reasons they have taken differing positions on the appropriate rate to be charged for indemnity cover for obstetrics. In essence, they do not share a common view on the extent to which the claims experience arising from the practice of obstetrics has deteriorated over the past ten years.

As part of the preparations for the introduction of enterprise liability in 2002 my Department has commissioned consultant actuaries to examine the historic cost of meeting medical malpractice claims. The actuaries have been asked to examine issues such as the adequacy of the reserves held by the medical defence organisations to meet the cost of future claims, including obstetric claims.