Sinn Féin call for co-operation on health strategy

Sinn Féin have called for cross-party co-operation to address the crisis in healthcare.

Sinn Féin have called for cross-party co-operation to address the crisis in healthcare.

Party president Mr Gerry Adams said there was all-party agreement on the need to increase health spending. The disagreement, he said, was on how the money should be spent.

He said the starting point for reform of the health service should be a commitment to provide free healthcare to all at the point of delivery.

Mr Adams said: "This can be best achieved through the establishment of a high-powered, all-party cabinet committee, tasked with bringing forward a focused and integrated plan for healthcare, following public consultation".

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Sinn Féin did not agree with the other main parties’ plan to "use the two tier public/private system as the basis for the health services". Mr Adams said inequalities will persist unless a single-tier service is created.

"Sinn Féin is proposing a ten-year strategy to convert the private health insurance system into a single-tier public system," Mr Adams said.

He said reforms should, where possible, take account of the commitment under the Belfast Agreement to harmonise health service on an all-Ireland basis.