Having private practices in public hospitals is akin to having private classes within public schools, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has said.
The Fine Gael leader said that you “would never dream” of limiting access to certain classes in schools to children who could afford to pay and that the practice must be stomped out in hospitals.
In December, the Government approved Health Stephen Donnelly’s proposals for a public-only hospital consultant contract following intense negotiations between the Department of Health, the HSE, the Irish Medical Organisation and the Irish Hospital Consultants Association.
READ MORE: Leo Varadkar issues grim pandemic warning as he indicates Covid inquiry to be set up
The contract will prevent consultants from treating private patients in public hospitals. Private patients must be treated offsite and consultants will be required to be available for a 37-hour work week between 8am and 10pm on weekdays and until 6pm on Saturdays.
The Taoiseach said that the so-called “two-tier health system” in Ireland is “not right and not normal”.
“We have a contract on the table that's being put forward to the organisations that represent consultants,” Mr Varadkar explained.
“We think it's a very good contract. It provides for a significant increase in pay for consultants. What we want in return is the phasing out of private practice and public hospitals.
“[It will] mean that patients, at least in our public hospitals, are being treated on the basis of need, not on their insurance status.
“If you think about it, we would never consider having private schools within our schools.
“We have the fee-charging schools. That's fine. That's the people's choice.
“Imagine if in our public schools, we had a fee paying class and those kids got a smaller class and the teacher got paid more to see them.
“You would never dream of doing something like that.
“That's actually the way our public health service is structured. It's not right. It's not normal.”
Sláintecare, the Government’s blueprint for the future of the health service, aims to provide care that is based on need rather than their ability to pay for treatments.
Mr Varadkar said that while people can continue to pay for private health insurance, that is their choice.
He continued: If doctors want to do private practice, that is their choice. But that won't be happening in our public system.
“I'd be really disappointed if 2023 wasn’t year one, or at least year zero, in terms of making that happen.”
READ NEXT:
- Young woman 'beaten and strangled' as body found in Cork flat hours after New Year festivities
- Chinese 2023 horoscope shows what Year of the Rabbit has in store for you based on 12 animal signs
- Rescue vehicles line Shannon Airport runway as plane declares emergency and woman rushed to hospital
- Millionaire Raffle: Lotto bosses confirm location of winning €1m ticket after New Year’s Eve draw
- Classy five-word comeback from pub to customer's complaint after 15 minute wait for carvery
Get breaking news to your inbox by signing up to our newsletter
