Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 4 December 2012
663. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health when he will publish the report on health spending commissioned from the World Health Organisation and the European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies; the conclusions of the report; his views on the conclusions; the action he will take on foot of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54443/12]
View answerMy Department invited the European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies, an international partnership hosted by the World Health Organisation, to prepare a report on the implications for the Irish health system of our current financial pressures. The report in question “Health system responses to financial pressures in Ireland: policy options in an international context” has been published and is available on the Department’s website, www.doh.ie. The report deals with, among other things, the approaches taken to date in relation to achieving efficiencies; the timing of further savings; the implications of demographic trends, including an ageing population; and the challenge of avoiding serious disruption to the system while engaging in extensive health reform. I believe that the report is timely, and it is a valuable contribution to budgetary discussions and service planning for 2013.
