David Cullinane
Ceist:632. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the total cost of removing private healthcare from public hospitals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12839/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraTuesday, 8 March 2022
Ceisteanna (632)
Freagraí scríofa
The removal of private practice from public hospitals is a core principle of Sláintecare, ensuring that public healthcare facilities are used for public patients only, and that public patients can access public hospitals based on clinical need. A roadmap to support this policy direction will be developed during the course of the Sláintecare Implementation Strategy & Action Plan 2021-2023. Pending its development, a detailed estimate of the cost of removing private care from public hospitals is not currently available given the wide range of variables that have to be accounted for. It is noted, nonetheless, that the de Buitléir Report estimated that the current income from private activity was approximately €524 million in 2018 and that the additional public activity which would happen if private activity was no longer occurring in public hospitals would generate additional statutory public charges of up to €52 million.