HSE faces €480m shortfall this year

HEALTH services are likely to take a significant hit in next month’s emergency budget after it emerged the HSE faces a €480 million shortfall this year.

Further medical card changes are not being ruled out with the cost to the State of free health care reaching €170m higher than 2009 budget predictions as more people become unemployed. A gap of €100m has been created because of drops in revenue from the health levy paid by each worker.

The health budget took another blow of €85m from a High Court ruling in favour of pharmacists last September in a pay dispute with the HSE.