Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 22 June 2004
25 Mr. O’Dowd asked the Minister for Health and Children the average cost of each surgical procedure carried out under the national treatment purchase fund; the average travel cost for the patient and their companion; and if he will compare it with the cost of similar procedures in public hospitals here. [18418/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe NTPF purchases procedures from private and public hospitals in Ireland. If it is not possible to treat patients within a reasonable period, either in public or private hospitals, arrangements can be made to refer the public patients for treatment abroad. Quality, availability and cost factors are taken into account.
The majority of procedures funded by the NTPF to date were carried out in private hospitals here. It has not released prices paid for individual procedures for reasons of commercial sensitivity. It assured my Department that the prices negotiated compare favourably with the comparative benchmarks available for the vast majority of procedures.
