Treatment has started for the first patients under the new National Treatment Purchase Fund designed for those who have been on waiting lists the longest.
The first patient to receive treatment had been on a waiting list since 1998. It is expected that over the coming weeks over 100 patients will be treated throughout the country. After that, the aim is to increase the numbers steadily.
The NTPF was announced as part of the National Health Strategy in the Budget. It is an independent unit answerable to the Minister for Health. The eight-person team purchases treatment for public patients who have been on waiting lists, including adults who have been on the in-patient list for over a year and children waiting for over six months.
The team will try to arrange treatment in the State, using either private hospitals or private beds in public hospitals. If this is not possible, the NTPF will be used to buy treatment abroad.
Ms Maureen Lynott, head of the NTPF, said it was pleased with progress to date.
"We are currently in discussions with health boards and hospitals throughout the country and patients who are eligible for treatment will hear from their local health board," she said.
People waiting a long time tended to consist of those in need of treatment for procedures such as varicose veins, tonsils, cataracts, gall bladder removal, hernia operations and hip replacements.
Meanwhile, the VHI said yesterday that more than €3 million was paid in benefit to members who became ill or were injured when abroad last year.
VHI Healthcare said that for the year ending May 31st, 2002, health insurance was paid on more than 1,200 claims for members needing treatment while abroad.
In some cases, the VHI also covered repatriation costs.
Of the claims paid, 34 per cent were incurred by members visiting the US, 20 per cent in Spain, 10 per cent in Greece, and 6 per cent both in Australia and France.