Sir, - The VHI has been granted a second increase this year bringing the total to over 15 per cent. The reasons for the latest increase have been well documented and subscribers are left with very little choice but to pay up.
However, it is right to point out that the VHI is a State-owned organisation and the Government could lessen the impact of the increase by re-instating a benefit we enjoyed in the past, those of us who paid a health contribution since we started work.
We lost this benefit many years ago during the famous health cuts by the Fianna Fβil government of the day, and I am surprised that there has been nothing said about this by anyone in Dβil ╔ireann since then.
Before the cuts, if one chose to avail of treatment in a private hospital one was entitled to claim the public ward contribution paid by the old Department of Social Welfare. This contribution helped towards the total cost of the treatment, which nowadays is not fully met by the VHI.
Health is now considered to be the most important topic in the run-up to the next General Election.
There are votes out there by the thousand if some TD has the nous to run with this matter and promises to make it part of their party's policy. Why does Gay Mitchell come to mind? - Yours, etc.,
Brendan M. Redmond, Hazelbrook Road, Terenure, Dublin 6w.