Sir, – Am I alone in my scepticism that the universal health insurance proposal from Dr James Reilly is likely to represent good value for the citizens of Ireland? I can’t help but suspect that, as a former head of the Irish Medical Organisation, the Minister might have a bias towards protecting the interests of his profession.
The proposed system is based on that of the Netherlands. In 2011, the 12 per cent of GDP which the Dutch spent on healthcare was the highest in developed world after the US. During the same year, the United Kingdom provided universal healthcare to its people in the form of the NHS, while spending slightly less in GDP terms than Ireland (9.3 per cent v 9.4 per cent). Taking value for money into account, surely the UK health system is a better model to aspire to than the Dutch one? – Yours, etc,
JOSEPH GUBBINS,
Admiral Walk,
Maida Vale,
London, England.
Sir, – Household charges, local property tax, universal social charge, next up comes water charges – the full range of delights that this wretched Government has imposed on struggling Irish citizens since they took over from Fianna Fáil in 2011.
Its latest proposal to further financially cripple the populace, for the good of our commercial elite, is explained in your Front page story (Martin Wall, February 22nd): “People who refuse to purchase mandatory cover for a basic package of health benefits would have the costs deducted from their earnings or benefits under confidential Government proposals for its new system of universal health insurance”.
Leaving aside the emotive words such as “mandatory” and “refused”, this latest escapade could end up costing the average citizen hundreds if not a few thousand euro per person per year and, although some citizens might still have elected to avail of our public health system this will no longer, essentially, exist. And of course, as per usual, we need to implement this because it’s “the norm across the European Union”.
Perhaps someone can explain to me what part of all of the above does not amount to effective dictatorship? – Yours, etc,
JD MANGAN,
Stillorgan Road,
Stillorgan, Co Dublin.
Sir, – Minister for Health James Reilly’s proposal for universal health insurance (Home News, February 21st) came as quite a surprise to me. That a health insurance package could cost an individual over €1,600 came as a shock. That it would be mandatory and could be deducted at source from the earnings or benefits of any dissenters almost sent me into palpitations.
This is more nanny-state interference with an individual’s right to choose. Many already struggle while contributing compulsory payments for their health care through PRSI and the universal social charge. Is the Minister so myopic he cannot see this? – Yours, etc,
JOHN BELLEW,
Dunleer, Co Louth.