Treatment Fund rejects costs comparison

IN his feature article (April 21), Dr David Moore incorrectly states that the cost of treating patients through the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) is “significantly greater” than the cost of treatment in the public hospital system.

For the record, throughout its work of arranging treatment for the longest waiting public patients, value for money is of primary importance to the NTPF.

It negotiates highly competitive prices with hospitals to ensure the best market rates available. If satisfactory prices cannot be agreed with a particular hospital, it is NTPF policy to source treatment elsewhere. It compares the prices it achieves against all other available data in the marketplace and is accountable to the Department of Health, to the Comptroller and Auditor General and ultimately to the taxpayer. Sweeping claims that the NTPF is more expensive than the public hospital system are without foundation.