Fianna Fáil launch health policy to introduce sugar tax and reverse universal health insurance
Fianna Fáil has officially published its health policy , which says that it would reverse the coalition's plans to develop a universal health insurance system.
The party says it would abolish the prescription charge over two years in Government and reduce the threshold for the drug payment scheme.
Health policy details an expansion of free GP care based on means, as well as more treatment of chronic illness in community setting.
— Fianna Fáil (@fiannafailparty) April 21, 2015
Fianna Fáil wants to cut smoking to under 5% of the population by 2025 from the current level of 20%; it would impose a sugar tax; and it would keep the HSE as managers of the health system.
The health policy document also proposes a 20% tax on sugar sweetened drinks to tackle Ireland's rising obesity levels.
— Fianna Fáil (@fiannafailparty) April 21, 2015
It outlines a €322m net cost for the first year of its plans, which includes savings of €128m.
Cork North–Central TD and health spokesperson Billy Kelleher tweeted, "our health policy document details the need for a fundamental shift towards primary and community care."
Our health policy document details the need for a fundamental shift towards primary and community care - @BillyKelleherTD
— Fianna Fáil (@fiannafailparty) April 21, 2015
Fianna Fáil says it would halt the roll-out of free GP care to older children instead of means testing it.
The party says it would leave free doctor visits for under 6's and over 70's, but would abandon coalition plans to add older children and eventually the entire population.
"We're talking about implementing this in 2016. The Government already have a €2b slush fund available to them and I'm quite sure that they will outbid us in what they are committing to the health services next year so there is head-room there and that is living well within the guidelines of the reduction of the budget deficit," said Kelleher.
Here it is: Fianna Fáil's long-awaited health policy. It's 47 pages. pic.twitter.com/BqISFsQ0E8
— TheJournal Politics (@TJ_Politics) April 21, 2015
Kelleher says giving free GP care to families who can afford to pay is not part of their policy.
"Anybody that is to get a GP card under the present Government proposals for under 6's or those over 70's will be continued," said Kelleher.
"But any expansion beyond that we believe should be based on means. We want to start incrementally increasing the thresholds where people qualify so that we can target those that most need GP access in terms of income guidelines," said Kelleher.
The Irish Pharmacy Union (IPU) welcomed calls by Fianna Fáil for an expanded role for community pharmacists to help alleviate pressures on GP surgeries.
IPU President Kathy Maher said: "The IPU welcomes the call by Fianna Fáil to expand the role of community pharmacists and for the introduction of more pharmacy-based services.
"This make perfect sense particularly with GPs, by their own admission, under serious pressure and A & E Departments struggling with the number of patients awaiting treatment.
"Providing community pharmacists, the most accessible part of healthcare, with a wider role benefits health outcomes and healthcare systems.
"It is a no-brainer, which has worked very effectively in other jurisdictions including Canada and the UK.
"In the UK alone it has been estimated that 51 million GP visits could have been dealt with by pharmacists and one in 12 hospital visits could have been handled in a pharmacy."
