Sir, – Paul Cullen outlines the concerns of the HSE board on a “potential drift towards privatisation” through the purchase of services from the private sector as a measure to cut waiting lists (News, October 30th).
Such a practice does not necessarily undermine the principle of public medicine. The State, here, is merely purchasing treatments from private hospitals on behalf of its public patients and, in the process, exploiting efficiencies of the private sector. The process is still within the confines of a public service.
What public patient, on a waiting list for over a year for a critical procedure, would not welcome such an initiative by the health service? Leveraging the efficiencies of the private sector to deliver public services is not a new concept. Rather than view it with suspicion, we might instead look to expand the concept – always, of course, being consistent with the objective of timely equal access to effective healthcare for all our citizens. – Yours, etc,
JOHN GRIFFIN,
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Kells,
Co Meath.