Health risk calculations

Madam, - In an analysis piece headed "Tánaiste rejects health insurance risk equalisation" ( The Irish Times, June 28th) it was…

Madam, - In an analysis piece headed "Tánaiste rejects health insurance risk equalisation" (The Irish Times, June 28th) it was stated that among the reasons given for this decision was "the casting of some doubt over the accuracy of the Health Insurance Agency's calculations which, according to the Tanaiste's advisers, may have been skewed by 'randon statistical variation'."

It is important to clarify that the accuracy of the HIA's calculations were not questioned. While Department officials and the Tánaiste's actuarial advisors acknowledged and explained that the calculations may have been affected by random statistical variation, this is an entirely different matter to any suggestion that the calculations may be inaccurate. - Yours, etc,

DEREK CUNNINGHAM, Press Officer, Department of Health and Children, Dublin 2.