Fianna Fáil’s health policy seeks €450m budget increase

Fianna Fáil's health policy will call for a €450 million increase in the health Budget. The party will launch its proposals today (Tue) including the abolition of Universal Health Insurance and a renegotiation of the GP contract.

Party spokesman on health Billy Kelleher said the policy will be fully costed and will propose an extra spend of €450 million in the area.

The party is calling for a 20 per cent sugar tax generating up to €58 million annually while it expects savings of €70 million.

The policy outlines the party's opposition to the introduction of Universal Health Insurance. It says the Fine Gael/Labour plans will force the State to surrender control and will remove services from certain areas in the country.

Fianna Fáil will not abolish the Health Service Executive and will return control of the Budget back from the Department of Health to the agency.

It is calling for a renegotiation of the GP contract and wants doctors to be taken on as “salaried employees” of the HSE.

The document proposes a “ring-fenced budget for reform” which it says will be in addition to the overall budget for the HSE.

It also says there should be an increase of €120 million in the primary care budget over a five year term.

The party will call for the National Treatment Purchase Fund to be re-established and will convene a special task force whose aim will be to ensure all scheduled day case/in patient care will be delivered within six months.

All hospitals will be required to have 8 am to 8pm consultation times and to enforce them.