Sir, - RTE's Prime Time special programme "The Two-Tier Health System" (February 1st) was interesting but at times disturbing viewing. It gave, as an example of the difference in care between the privately and publicly funded health systems, the histories of two heart surgery candidates, one of whom had private health insurance and had surgery within ten days of his appointment with the consultant, while the patient in the public system waited for four and a half years for his surgery.I think this kind of comparison does not get to the centre of the problem but rather only contributes to discontent and distracts from the real issue. What would have been more constructive and interesting would have been a discussion on whether the public health service itself is giving value to the public which funds it. What I would like to have seen debated were questions such as what are reasonable waiting times? Should the Government be spending more to reduce the current waiting times and if so how much more and at what price to the tax payer?The real issue is the fact that the public health system does not appear to be delivering an adequate service, rather than the fact that there are differences in care between the public and private health services. After all, in a free market economy, there are always going to be some people who have more than others and they may choose to buy, for example, a bigger car, a larger house or more healthcare and, if you believe in the free economy, there is nothing wrong with that. - Yours, etc.,Fionnuala Tansey, Booterstown, Co Dublin.