Stop shadow boxing with health service
He ignores the fact that the centralised, hierarchical bureaucracy that was entrusted a decade ago to take care of peoples’ wellbeing is a systemically dysfunctional behemoth. It is apparent that the Government has lost sight of its fundamental responsibility for the wellbeing of the population of Ireland.
It is also apparent that the myriads of apparatchiks that preside over it have lost control of the direction and management of the Health Services Executive.
A fundamental reason for its existence is that the Health Service Executive would be more efficient and effective than a decentralised structure.
The cost of public healthcare has escalated by 42% since 2004 to €14 billion, in a decade when the population increased by 13.5% and the overall Consumer Price Index increased by 17%.
A litmus test of the success, impact and prestige of any government is defined by the wellbeing of the population it serves and what this costs the public purse. We need look no further than Switzerland, with its population of 7 million to observe an excellent, integrated and trusted health service in action.
It is past time for every cabinet minister and prospective party leaders to stop shadow boxing with the health of the population in a narrow, one-dimensional manner and to demonstrate that the Government has the vision, the capacity and the determination to retrieve the health service from the hands of unaccountable, ineffective bureaucrats and embedded, intransigent vested interests.
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