Sir, – Eddie Molloy (Opinion, November 4th) outlines a number of ways to reform the Irish healthcare system. However he fails to mention primary preventive health care.
The Irish health care system focuses on acute disease treatment or early detection of active disease rather than on prevention. Many diseases are self-inflicted – caused by an epidemic of unhealthy habits: such as smoking, alcohol abuse and drug dependency, improper diet, and chronic stress. Yet a tiny proportion of Ireland’s health care budget is spent on prevention.
One statistic states that as much as 50 per cent of illness could be prevented if even existing knowledge were implemented fully. For example, it is acknowledged that smoking and poor diet are responsible for nearly 60 per cent of all cancer deaths. Similarly, many other major disorders, such as heart disease, and diabetes, could be radically reduced if effective primary prevention were instituted.
There needs to be a public policy shift from disease care to primary preventive health care and thus save money in the best possible way – by keeping people healthy. – Yours, etc,
JOHN BURNS,
Grove Avenue,
Blackrock, Co Dublin.