The Government has embarked on a major reform programme for the health system, the aim of which is to deliver a single-tier health service, supported by universal health insurance, where access is based on need, not income. The White Paper on Universal Health Insurance (UHI) was published on 2 April 2014 and provides detailed information on the UHI model for Ireland.
When I became Minister for Health, I reviewed our progress to date and the timescales for implementing very important reforms, including UHI. I concluded that it would not be possible to introduce a full UHI system by 2019, as envisaged in the White Paper.
However, I want to emphasise my commitment to implementing reforms. In particular, I want to push ahead with key reforms in areas such as extending free GP care on a phased basis, improving the management of chronic diseases, implementing key financial reforms, including activity-based funding, and establishing hospital groups. As well as representing critical building blocks for the future health system, these initiatives are also important reforms in their own right that will drive efficiencies and bring benefits in advance of moving to a system of universal healthcare.
With regard to extending free GP care to the whole population on a phased basis, the objective is to have universal GP care without fees for children under 6 years in place in Quarter 2 of 2015. This is subject to the conclusion of discussions with the Irish Medical Organisation and the completion of a fee-setting process. The Government is also prioritising GP care without fees at the point of access for persons over 70 years to coincide with the introduction of GP care without fees for children under 6. By the end of this year, approximately half the population will have access to GP services, without charges. €37 million has been provided for the first and second phases of this initiative this year. It should be emphasised this funding has not been taken from any other health area.
Finally with regard to the wider issue of the statutory resources required to deliver UHI, my Department is undertaking a major costing exercise, in conjunction with the ESRI, the Health Insurance Authority and others. This exercise will estimate the cost of UHI for individuals/households and the Exchequer. I expect to have the initial results from this exercise in April, following which I will revert to Government with a roadmap on the next steps to UHI.
