Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 3 July 2012
634 Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the outcome of a visit to Germany by his officials to investigate the German model of healthcare; if the Dutch model is being abandoned; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32168/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government is committed to fundamental reform of the health system. This will see the delivery of a single-tier health service, supported by universal health insurance, which will ensure equal access to care based on need, not income.
The reform programme is a complex and major undertaking that requires careful planning and sequencing. Detailed consideration must be given to the structures that are needed for delivery of different services and to the critical inter-relationships between services as well as best practice in healthcare reform. My Department has been examining the experience of health reforms in a range of countries, including the Netherlands and Germany. Part of this work included organising a seminar in Dublin on universal health insurance which was attended by experts from the World Health Organisation, the European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies and the Dutch Health Ministry. My officials also undertook a study visit to the Netherlands in June 2011 to examine the Dutch health insurance model. More recently, my officials undertook a study visit to Germany in order to advance our thinking on the introduction of a prospective case-based Money follows the Patient system for funding hospitals. This is a key building block in relation to the introduction of universal health insurance.
I see it as imperative that we continue to engage with interested parties and gain from the experiences of other countries in this area. This is reflected in the membership of the Implementation Group on Universal Health Insurance which includes international experts working with the World Health Organisation and the European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies. It is important to bear in mind that, ultimately, this Government's reform proposals will be designed to meet the needs of the Irish system and to ensure the best outcomes for Irish patients.
