UHI will make healthcare accessible to all – Byrne

Fine Gael TD for Dublin South Central, Catherine Byrne, has welcomed the launch of the White Paper on Universal Health Insurance (UHI) earlier this week, saying it is the first step in the Government’s commitment to make healthcare accessible for all.

“Our current health system is broken; it is unfair and inefficient. UHI will remove our current two tier health service and replace it with a universal system where access is based on need, and not on the ability to pay.

“The HSE is a flawed system. It was flawed from the very outset, when it was established by Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin. We are currently spending much more on healthcare than other countries, but we are not getting the same results. The introduction of UHI will reduce the long term costs of healthcare here and will result in lower waiting lists, better cost control and improved patient safety.

“Free GP care will be a central part of UHI, as it will help to ensure that more people are treated in the community, rather than in hospital. Under UHI, everyone will have health insurance. But it’s important to state that anyone who cannot afford it will have their cover subsidised. For example, those on medical cards will have their health insurance costs covered by the State.

“As a member of the Oireachtas Health Committee, I welcome a request from the Minister that the Committee would debate the contents of the White Paper, so all Committee members can voice their concerns.”

ENDS