Healthy finances trump wellbeing, study shows

Most Irish people remain more concerned with personal finances than their health, despite economic improvements, a study shows.

Also, one quarter of the population have neither private health insurance nor a medical card, according to the annual Pfizer Health Index.

However, the number of those with health insurance has begun to rise again for the first time in five years, while the percentage of those visiting GPs has also increased.

The 2015 index has revealed that 63% of people report they are still experiencing austerity measures with “finances and money” now more important than “health and welfare”. The Pfizer Health Index demonstrated that personal health reduced in importance by 9% during the recession, falling from 83% to 74%. The nation also agreed that health is where the greater investment should be made by the Government. This is the tenth year of the Pfizer Health Index in Ireland.

Since 2010, every year has seen a decline in those with health insurance, down from 44% in 2010 to 33% in 2014.

However, this year sees a reversal of the trend, with 36% of people claiming to have health insurance.

During the recession, an increasing number of people were entitled to medical cards, rising to 44% in 2012, falling in 2013 and 2014, but increasing to 43% in 2015. Collectively, 75% of respondents either hold private insurance or a medical card.

Another concern during the recession was the decline in people visiting their GP. This trend appears to be reversing, with 43% reporting a visit to their GP for a check-up in the last three months, compared with 38% in 2014. This year, 31% claimed to have visited their GP because they were unwell, compared with 26% in 2014.

Against this backdrop, people have become increasingly positive about their personal health. In 2005, 61% of people scored their health eight out of 10 based on a range of criteria. but this has increased to 65% in 2015.

For the first time, the index also looked at the role of technology in healthcare, with 22% of people using a self-monitoring app.

At the launch of the index, Professor Charles Normand, the Edward Kennedy chairman of Health Policy and Management at Trinity College Dublin, said: “Despite Ireland officially being out of recession, it is clear that people are still feeling the impact of austerity in terms of their personal finances and this is impacting on healthcare in general.”

Pfizer Healthcare Ireland managing director Paul Reid said: “Health was significantly impacted under austerity and this is reflected in the index findings. Investing in health remains key and, while 2015 saw an improved health budget, as we move to more prosperous times, we must focus again on health.”