Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 1 December 2016
52. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Health the number of treatments commissioned from the private sector by the National Treatment Purchase Fund, NTPF, in each year since its inception in tabular form; the number of treatments commissioned from the private sector by his Department or the HSE in each of the past ten years if applicable; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37859/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraTreatments have been commissioned from the private sector by both the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) and the HSE in targeted initiatives to reduce waiting list numbers.
The NTPF was established on a statutory basis in 2004 and previously arranged for the provision of hospital treatment to classes of persons determined by the Minister. Since 2011 this function has been suspended.
I include with the official report a tabular statement setting out details of the annual budget of the NTPF and the number of patients treated per annum since its inception.
Budget 2017 provides for the treatment of our longest-waiting patients. €20m is being allocated to the NTPF, rising to €55m in 2018. Planning for these initiatives is currently being finalised with the NTPF. As part of this process, I have requested that the NTPF put in place a robust monitoring and evaluation process of the outputs and outcomes to ensure that the learning gleaned informs future initiatives.
In relation to treatments commissioned from the private sector by the HSE, as this is a service matter I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.
