Universal Health Insurance: Government 'remains committed' to a 'form' of UHI

Taoiseach Enda Kenny has claimed the Government remains committed to a “form” of universal health insurance, despite delaying the reform policy for up to a decade due to long-standing cost concerns.

A spokesman for the Fine Gael leader said the Coalition will continue to consider elements of the UHI proposals first put forward by James Reilly five years ago, after a day in which the reform plan was drastically delayed.

At yesterday’s cabinet meeting, Health Minister Leo Varadkar effectively signalled the end of UHI for the foreseeable future after explaining that three separate independent reports had warned about the significant personal and State costs it would involve.