Irish Examiner view: Unspoken pitfalls involved in building ‘an Irish NHS’

Almost half the population of the Republic has private health insurance. It is difficult to see how the advantages this currently confers will easily be replaced by a one-size-fits-all health system

'HSE chief executive Bernard Gloster... might do himself a favour in explaining what those jobs are, and why they are necessary.' File picture: HSE

With the battle lines being drawn for the next general election, we have already seen that the subject of health provision is to be weaponised for party political advantage.

Sinn Féin has promised “an Irish NHS” within two terms of office, with Gerry Adams declaring that “citizens have the right to a public health service based on need, free at the point of delivery and paid for by direct taxation”. In other words, the British model rather than the application of a universal insurance scheme.