An expert group has been eastablished to examine how best to manage the health service's resources and further the ongoing reform programme, Minister for Health Mary Harney announced today.
The group has been asked to identify the strengths and weaknesses of the current resource allocation arrangements for health and personal social services, the Minister said.
In addition, it will recommend appropriate changes in these arrangements and examine the best ways of financing the health service, including taxation or compulsory private or social insurance.
The group, to be chaired by ESRI director Professor Frances Ruane, has been asked to report to the Minister for Health and Children and the Minister for Finance by April 2010.
Ms Harney said the group's task would be "highly complex" and there would be "no simple answers".
The HSE has already begun work on ways of improving the efficiency and effectiveness of resource allocation, she said.
"The expert group will build on this and work with the HSE to find the most effective way to apply a given level of funding to achieve health policy goals."
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