There is no clear national plan for the health service in Ireland, according to HSE chief Tony O'Brien.
He also said that a lack of clear financial planning is preventing him from making medium and long term decisions, and that the HSE has been living under a death sentence for years.
Speaking to the Sunday Business Post, Mr O'Brien said that there's no understanding of what is wanted from healthcare in Ireland.
He says that the salaries of doctors and healthcare professionals need to increase, and expressed concern about a growing opinion among politicians and the media that healthcare can be error free.