FG in universal healthcare pledge

FINE Gael leader Enda Kenny last night pledged to copy the Dutch system of universal health insurance in order to radically reduce waiting lists.

In his opening address to the party’s Ard Fheis in Dublin, Mr Kenny warned the country could not afford to neglect its sick, despite the demands of the economic crisis.

He pledged to bring in a combination of the Canadian and Dutch systems of comprehensive health payments where medical costs are fully or partly subsidised for all citizens by the state.