Reform plans could see healthcare costs rocket

James Reilly’s plans for reform of the health service could see the cost of providing universal healthcare in Ireland rise by up to 50% within five years, an economist has warned.

The health minister is determined to push ahead with a system introduced in the Netherlands four years ago.

The Dutch programme, based on regulated competition in the private sector, has been almost universally praised by patients, but the per capita costs associated with it have soared since Jan 2006.