Privatisation ‘puts fair health system at risk’

A HEALTH union last night claimed Ireland is losing its ability to develop a fair public health service, because the Government is “sleepwalking” the country into policies that support privatisation.

IMPACT said next week’s general election could represent a “point of no return” for public services.

“The choices facing our health services are stark and the stakes for public health care are high indeed,” the union’s health division chairwoman, Christine Cully, said at its annual conference in Portlaoise.

“More than one political party has sleepwalked into the ‘public bad, private good’ mentality, which has written off our hugely popular and successful public health system and encourages privatisation at any opportunity. They badly need a wake-up call.”

She said privatisation will not deliver high-quality services for all because the private system depends on inequality to survive.