Downturn 'may threaten health gains'

RISING UNEMPLOYMENT and falling resources could threaten health gains made over the past decade, a major report from the Department of Health warns.

The Health in Ireland: Key Trends 2010, published yesterday, notes life expectancy in Ireland has caught up with the EU average over the last decade, and overtaken it.

While for men, life expectancy has reached 76.8 years, for women it is now 81.6 years. This applies to babies born in Ireland today. Research published earlier this year indicated about half of all girls born this year could expect to reach their 100th birthday.

“The rise in life expectancy in Ireland during the past decade has been unmatched by any other country in Europe,” the report says. “Ireland has gone from a position of nearly one year below average EU expectancy to almost one year above in the space of 10 years during which time average EU life expectancy has also been increasing.”

These recent improvements are due to better survival rates from such conditions as heart disease and cancer.

“Although difficult to quantify, the contribution of modern health services to this achievement has been of unquestionable significance,” it says.

Mortality from circulatory system diseases fell by almost 40 per cent between 2000 and 2009, and cancer deaths decreased by 11 per cent. These are illnesses associated with old age and as a consequence, the number of people over the age of 65 will more than double in the next 20 years, from 500,000 to 1.3 million.

“The greatest proportional increase will be in the 85-plus age group.”

The report says the overall upward trend in good health “can serve to mask less favourable health conditions pertaining to specific sub-groups of the population based in social class, ethnicity, gender, age or area of residence.”

In particular it notes “striking evidence of health inequality, showing life expectancy for Traveller males more than 15 years less than the general population and more than 10 years less for females”.

And while health outcomes and outlooks have improved dramatically over the past decade of national prosperity, warnings are sounded about the impact of the recession.

“Data for 2009 and estimates for 2010 show the beginnings of reductions in spending and in numbers employed. Figures also show increasing numbers and percentages of the population eligible for a medical card.”

Some 33 per cent of the population are now covered by medical card, an increase of 30 per cent over the decade and of nine per cent between 2008 and 2009.

“The key challenge is in ensuring that reductions in resources are carefully targeted and matched by more efficient and effective ways of delivering services,” says the report.

While public health expenditure rose from €7.2 billion in 2001 to €15.5 billion in 2009, estimates for 2010 indicate a decline of 4.3 per cent down to €14.8 billion.

Minister for Health Mary Harney welcomed the positive aspects of the report, in particular improved life expectancy, but added: “Protecting and enhancing our health gains . . . will require working both more efficiently and more effectively.”

HEALTH IN IRELAND KEY TRENDS

MORTALITY

Mortality from circulatory system disease fell by almost 40 per cent between 2000 and 2009, and from cancer by 11 per cent. These causes accounted for 63 per cent of all deaths in 2009.

Transport accident mortality fell by nearly 50 per cent.

suicide rates by 9 per cent and infant mortality by almost 50 per cent.

MEDICAL CARDS

Numbers covered by medical card increased by 30 per cent, to comprise 33 per cent of the population. Number of prescription items dispensed under the General Medical Services increased from 22 million in 1999 to 51 million in 2009.

HEALTH SPENDING

Total public health expenditure has increased from €7.2 billion in 2001 to €15.5 billion in 2009, and is projected to fall to €14.8 billion this year.

BIRTHS

There has been a slight decline in the number of births though there are still around 20,000 more per annum now than 10 years ago. Irish fertility rates are still the highest in the EU.

POPULATION

Population of Ireland has increased by 16 per cent to 4.4 million with the largest increase in the mid-east region. Growth overall is slowing, and marginally declining in the 15 to 64 age group.