Health & Political Reform Now!

HEALTH & POLITICAL REFORM NOW!

In 2009 over €33 billion was collected in tax. The budget for the department of health was €15.6 billion. Which means that almost half of our taxes were spent on health. Yet what do we get in return? Practically nothing!

To visit a GP we must pay €50-65 per visit, an additional family member (such as a sick child) brings the cost to €80-€100 per visit. At the Chemist we pay 100% mark up on medicine. If we do not wish to get sicker on a public waiting list we must purchase VHI. If and when we see a consultant we must pay him/her €100-€200 per visit (in addition to an insurance premium). We might then be placed upon a private waiting list to be treated ....in most cases at a "public" hospital.

We must pay €100 for a visit to an often dirty and always overcrowded A&E, and we must pay up to €600 for a stay in a public hospital. We must pay for access to; physiotherapy, chiropody, dietician and psychological support. And it just keeps going.. every few years we hear talk of a refernedum on abortion whilst in realty Young adults must pay €50-80 for contraception and STD advice! Anxious parents must pay €50-80 to have an infant examined.... where does the madness end?

Fine Gael & Labour want to address this by "Mandatory Private Health Insurance." (See Fine Gael' Fair-Care plan available on their
website) www.faircare.ie

Yes thats right.. They want us to spend even MORE! ...and to give it over to the private insurance companies that Dr Reilly is presently in "negotiations" with, see irish Medical Times 04/02/2011.

MORE OF THE SAME: Fine Gael & Labour = Fianna Fail in different suits.

Lets wake up and smell the coffee!

Q: Why did VHI recently introduce a massive increase to the cost of health insurance(40% on some policies)?

A: Because they know that when Fine Gael come to power the purchase of those same Health Insurance policies will become MANDATORY for all, under the Fine Gael 'Fair Care' plan.

Q: Why are Dr. Reilly & Fine Gael in "Negotiations with forigen Health Insurance Companies" (See Irish Medical Times 04/02/2011 Fianna Gael in Negotiations with International Insurer )

A: Because Insurance Companies are lining up for the biggest sale of the century....whats for sale? WE ARE!

Ireland should have the best health service in the world; in reality we have one of the worst, and it will not improve under Fine Gael & Labour!

.FAIR CARE = THE LIONS SHARE FOR PRIVATE MEDICAL INSURANCE COMPANIES

Our Proposals for Rational Health Reform

'Health Reform Now' proposes the following:

• A national reduction in GP charges to €10- 20 Maximum for working adults
  
• Free GP visits for OAP's and contraception or sexual health consults
  
• Free GP visits for children from 1-5 years
  
• An end to the treatment of private patients in public hospitals and the "need" for private Insurance.
  
• The provision of choice for medical card holders who will no longer be the 'property' of their GMS Doctor.
  
• Provision of community facilities to manage patients in the community and drastically reduce the number presenting to our hospitals for care and treatment that could be easily and affordably offered in the community.
  
• The implementation of a National Drug Formulary, where drug companies will tender the government for contracts to provide medicines,thereby drastically reducing the cost of all needed medicines.
  
• An end to the multiplicity of Quangos and health promotion organisations that accomplish little and cost so much.
  
• The introduction of a single interactive health website that will serve as the first point of call for the computer literate.
  
• The introduction of Personal/Family Health as a subject in secondary schools, teaching young people to become empowered in managing their own health and that of their future families, and their ageing parents.

GP Visiting Fees

GP fees will be reduced so that all can see a Doctor and in the case of infants, the elderly and those seeking contraception and sexual health there will be no fee. If the system is entirely free for everyone it may be abused and we will end up with a 2-week wait to see the Doctor as is often the case in the UK. Charges are designed to ensure there is some incentive and reward for people to try conservative treatment at home, and to relive some of the burden for health costs from the taxpayer.

National Drug Formulary

The implementation of a National Drug Formulary, where drug companies will tender the government for contracts to provide medicines included upon a NATIONAL FORMULARY. This system will be based upon that which is presently used in other countries such as New Zealand. This system will ensure that medicines will be available to the public at much cheaper prices. Those who want brand name drugs, instead of the generic option, will be free to pay for these themselves.

Private Patients

'Health Reform Now' calls for an end to the treatment of private patients in public hospitals. We seek the immediate return of the public health system back to the ownership of the public and not; Private Consultants, Private Medical Schools, Drug Companies and Private Insurance Companies.. as is the case at Beaumont Hospital. Removal of these 'Private' abuses from the public system, the managemant of patients in the community rather than the hospital, and an appropriate system for the care of the elderly... WILL reduce bed usage to such an extent as to give us a public hospital system that can begin to function in the capacity of a public service.

Choice for medical card holders

Medical Card holders should be able to choose their doctor rather than being the property of a particular GP and subject to sale and purchase by GMS GP's.

Community Health Facilities

Increase in the number of nurse practitioners. Payment, training and support for GPs, and nurse practitioners to properly manage patients in the community setting rather than the clogging up of hospital clinics with people that could easily be managed in the community; Such as the ridiculous practice of people attending hospital for minor procedures such as skin biopsies and toe-nail removals, and routine follow up visits for chronic illness etc.

An Interactive Health Website

An end to the multiplicity of Quangos and the formation of a single health advisory unit with an interactive health website, a single yearly/monthly health magazine and a 24hr nurse advisory line for patients.

Reform and Maintenance of the out of Hours service

This can be accomplished through the introduction of a small fee for ALL call out services and ALL centre visits. At present the culture of FREE amongst many but not all medical card holders places huge demmands upon the service and these demmands could be reduced quickly and efficiently by the introduction of small fees for services such as call outs and out of hours centre visits. Of course this is not a strategy tht wins votes but it is the sensible option that must be implemented if out of hours Doctors services are to be maintained for the good of all society.

These proposals are just some of the practical health issues that we will put to the fore at the coming general election campaign. Please Contact Us with any comments or to join 'Health Reform Now'.