‘Managed competition’ health has undesirable side-effects

THE Government has committed itself to a radical overhaul of healthcare, with the elimination of the existing two-tier health system, the introduction of free GP care for all, and universal health insurance.

The system envisaged by Health Minister James Reilly will also mean dispensing with our tax-based system and bringing market forces to bear on how the service is funded and run.

Competition, often prescribed as an efficiency-enhancing tonic for ailing healthcare systems, will be a key factor. Independent hospital trusts will be competing with each other for business and the same will go for health insurers.