The Minister of State at the Department of Health, Sean Power, has told the Irish Medical Organisation's annual conference that there is a "false perception" of the state of the health care system.
"There is a tendency among some commentators to highlight the perceived flaws in the health system," he said. "This approach has helped to create the false impression of a health system in crisis."
Instead, Mr Power highlighted the Irish Society for Quality in Healthcare 2004 survey, which said that 93 per cent were satisfied with the services they received during their hospital stay.
Addressing the conference, the minister also pointed out that there has been a "substantial increase" in public funding, in recent years and that waiting times and waiting lists had been reduced.
Mr Power credited the National Treatment Purchase Fund for the reduction in waiting times, with more than 38,000 patients benefitting from the fund since it was established. Over 4,400 patients were referred by the fund for out-patient appointments in 2005 alone; Mr Power promised almost €80 million to maintain this level of treatment.
He also said the Government was examining the scope of the private sector to provide extra capacity in the health system.
"Over the next 5 years up to 1,000 additional beds for public patients in public hospitals will be freed up through efficient, effective and best value partnership with the private sector," he said.
Addressing the issues raised by the IMO's call to reduce excessive alcohol consumption, Mr Power said that the HSE had been given resources to introduce a pilot screening and intervention programme in the A&E department of an acute hospital.
The minister called for help from IMO members in the reform of the health system. ""Change can be perceived as a threat or as an opportunity," he said. "You as medical professionals can play a key role in ensuring that the perception and reality of change is positive. As leaders in health care, doctors must act as active champions of change rather than as passive commentators."
Earlier in the day, chief executive of the IMO George McNeice accused the Government of trying to shift the blame to health professionals, despite their attempts to help resolve issues with the health system.
"For many years, the IMO has proposed solutions to the problems in the health service," he said. "However, instead of being listened to, we and other health professionals - are being unfairly blamed for service inadequacies and deficits defects."