Value for money ‘key to health reform’

VALUE for money will be the key to a radical reform planned for the health service, Tánaiste Mary Harney said yesterday.

"Throwing more money at the system is not the answer. We are spending over €10 billion on the service this year and it is not going to the frontline," she said.

"We are spending more than the French per capita but we don't seem to be able to get the same quality of care," she added.

Ms Harney is on the Cabinet sub-committee considering two reports recommending major reforms of the health service.

The Brennan and Prospectus reports show too much money is being spent on bureaucratic costs over 23,000 extra people have been recruited to the health service in recent years, Ms Harney said.

"Before the Government contemplates putting more resources into the service we would be crazy not to accompany it with reform," she added.

Reform will have to ensure the system is less bureaucratic, that people are more responsible for the money they get and that there is accountability, Ms Harney said. She said a final decision on reforms will not be made until the final report on medical manpower is issued shortly.

Asked if the reduction in bureaucracy will mean administrative job losses, Ms Harney said: "We certainly will not increase the number of bureaucrats the reality is that on the frontline we need people."

Labour leader Pat Rabbitte has accused the Government of conning the people by promising them major health improvements before the election and then imposing major cutbacks. But Ms Harney rejected this claim.

"We are spending €1 billion more this year. The reality is that the money is not delivering what we expected it to deliver."