Politicians must build a fair health system

In reply to Brian Turner’s article (‘Universal health care in need of reform’, November 18), the model chosen by Fine Gael for their policy of universal health insurance (multiple private insurers rather than one) might have been flawed, but the real problem is the utter lack of public concern in Ireland about the effects of the two-tier health service.

When have the Churches, the Labour Party or Fianna Fail, for instance, made anything other than tokenistic remarks on the subject? I’m not defending Fine Gael, but at least they had a policy, which they’ve now effectively ditched.

It may be true that, as Brian Turner says, Ireland needs a debate on which kind of health ‘service’ we want, and how we want to fund it, but is this likely when the announcement of free GP care for the under-6s just brings callers to Liveline complaining that a five-year-old gets free care, but their disabled seven-year-old doesn’t?

True, in one way, but this is a rolling (now stalled) programme.

Mr Varadkar says the ‘stakeholders’ didn’t buy into universal healthcare, but why don’t our political leaders lead, for once? Do doctors run the country or does the Government?

The inter-party government in the 1940s shelved plans for a national health service here, due to opposition from medics and the Church. Ireland still stands apart from Western Europe on this matter.

Paul Donegan

Bedford Rd

Holland-onSea

Essex

UK