Health Minister, Dr. James Reilly, T.D., has appointed members of an Implementation Group on Universal Health Insurance to develop detailed implementation plans for universal health insurance.
The Minister says it will also be actively driving the implementation of various elements of the reform programme.
The membership of the group is as follows:
- Dr. Fergal Lynch, Assistant Secretary, Department of Health (Chair)
- Paul Barron, Assistant Secretary, Primary Care, Department of Health
- Prof. Reinhard Busse and Sarah Thomson (acting as alternates), international experts working with the World Health Organisation, the European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies and Others
- Dr. Martin Connor, Senior Adviser to the SDU with international experience in healthcare management
- Brian Fitzgerald, Director of Finance, St. James’ Hospital and Joint Director of the HSE Patient Level Costing Project
- Tom Heffernan, Principal Officer, Department of Public Expenditure and Reform
- Mark Moran, Former CEO of the Mater Private Hospital and former Chairman of the DoH/HSE Working Group on Reference Pricing and Generic Substitution
- Dr. Fergus O’Ferrall, Lecturer in Health Policy, Trinity College Dublin
- Dr. Barry White, National Director for Clinical Strategy and Programmes, HSE
- Liam Woods, National Director of Finance, HSE
The terms of reference for the group are:
- To oversee the development of detailed proposals and implementation processes for UHI which are designed to fit the Irish health system, to obtain the best outcomes for Irish patients and to deliver upon the commitments in the Programme for Government.
- The Implementation Group will also be able to consider developments or proposals which are not directly connected with, but which could have implications for, UHI Implementation.
- In undertaking this work, the Implementation Group will:
- Consider on a systematic basis the range of services and functions provided within the public health sector and provide detailed recommendations in relation to the future provision of these services and functions, and the basket of services to be covered by the insurance system.
- Consider and propose mechanisms for encouraging the delivery of patient-centred care in the most appropriate setting, including mechanisms for integrating services at the point of delivery.
- Consider and make recommendations on the governance of the insurance market under UHI.
- Develop a comprehensive implementation timetable and schedule of proposed work for the consideration and agreement of the Minister for Health and the Government.
- Monitor progress against this timetable and schedule, and report to the Minister for Health on sameAt the Minister’s request, provide advice in relation to other developments underway or proposed which might have implications for UHI.
