Sinn Féin has set out proposals for the creation of "a free healthcare system for all."
Launching the party's new health strategy in Dublin this morning Sinn Féin TD Mr Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin said the strategy would include free GP care, free hospital care and free medication.
|
|
Mr Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin
|
To pay for this Mr Ó Caoláin called for a "radical increase" in healthcare funding to bring Ireland into line with the European average of eight per cent of GDP. At present in international terms, Ireland spends less of its income on health than most other EU countries and has the fewest hospital beds per capita in the EU.
Mr Ó Caoláin strongly criticised the Government’s management of the health service to date describing it as an abject failure.
He said despite recent economic prosperity succesive governments have maintained a two-tier public/private structure which has created a 'crisis' in the health service.
Mr Ó Caoláin said consistantly poor planning and underfunding has led to staff shortages, a loss of hospital beds, the closure of two maternity hospitals and long waiting lists.
He said while there was a need for widespread reforms, extra spending, long-term planning and better management would eventually lead to free health care funded from central general revenue.
The party also called for a National Health Service based on openness, accountability and inclusiveness.
Minister for Health and Children Mr Micheal Martin, TD said Sinn Fein’s Health for All policy "can only be interpreted as a proposal to give everything to everyone while refusing to say what the bill is."