| Health Care In The Republic Of Ireland |
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MINISTER FOR HEALTH & CHILDREN See Also: Minister for Health and Children (Ireland) The Minister for Health & Children has responsibility for setting overall policy with regard to the health service. HEALTH SERVICE EXECUTIVE See Also: Health Service Executive The Health Service Excecutive (HSE) manages the delivery of the entire health service as a single national entity. Currently the HSE is continuing to manage the health service under the Health Act 1970 Structres . The Health Boards no longer exist as corporate entities, however the structures which existed remain as divisions of the HSE until a plan of reorganisation is complete. Each former health board area operates as a division of the HSE and the former Chief Executive Officer of each health board is now known as a chief officer for the HSE region. When the HSE reorganisation plan is completed, there will be three main directorates:
DELIVERY The delivery of heath care in Ireland is currently a major concern of national politics, health care is typically delivered in a mix of private and public systems with most infrastructure being in private hands. The health care system is often criticised for been ad-hoc and fragmentary in nature and not taking advantage of Economies Of Scope . Health insurance is available to the population for those who want to avail of it. Vhi Healthcare and BUPA Ireland , and VIVAS Health a third player provide health insurance. The provision of health insurance has been controversial in Ireland for a number of years and more so recently, because "risk equalisation" has not been implemented, and it is claimed this would go to some length in creating more even Profit Margin s and Risk Management between the two main competitors. Although, it is also claimed that Vhi Healthcare is simply trying to strengthen and maintain its market dominance by using risk equalisation to extract large payments from its main competitor BUPA Ireland. Free healthcare is provided under the ''General Medical Services'' (''GMS'') scheme for those who earn below a certain income, and for all over the age of seventy irrespective of income. A medical card is provided by the HSE to those entitled to participate in the scheme. This system of health provision is often criticised as it is reactionary rather than preventive in treating patients. A significant proportion of the population is covered by either health insurance or the General Medical Services, whilst many employed people pay the health contribution under the Pay Related Social Insurance system that is adminstered by the state and gives few benefits. Primary healthcare Primary healthcare in Ireland in provided by General Practitioner s (GPs) who generally operate as sole traders or in practices with up to two other GPs and sometimes practice nurses. GPs generally charge on a per consultation fee basis. Because of the sole trader nature of GP practice in Ireland this is often criticised as not bringing together various other medical disciplines that can be easily dispensed in the community and complement each other such as baby, child and dental care which even in very small towns or villages may use different facilities and not be near each other. Hospitals ''See also: List Of Hospitals In Ireland '' Hospitals in Ireland generally exist as voluntary organisations (operated by trusts or foundations), though some, such as James Connolly Memorial Hospital at Blanchardstown , are operated directly by the Health Service Executive. Some are teaching hospitals operated in conjunction with a university. Hospitals in Ireland generally offer a full range of healthcare including Accident And Emergency services. One ongoing dispute is a proposal that some local hospitals will in future only offer certain services while major hospitals will offer the full range. This is a matter of much political debate in Ireland. SEE ALSO EXTERNAL LINK |
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