Quinn: Too late for Ireland to adopt NHS system
It is too late to think about setting up a UK National Health Service model in Ireland, a Government Minister said today.
Ruairi Quinn faced questions in the Dáil about the Coalition's plans for Universal Health Insurance.
Fianna Fáil criticised the plan, saying it creates more questions than answers about costs and what would be covered.
Minister Quinn said that the country is effectively stuck with a health insurance-based system.
"We have a not-for-profit model insurance company already," he said. "40% of people already have voluntary health insurance.
"It is not an option to eradicate an insurance model and go back to the British national health system as if you'd a clear landscape.
"We're looking for a system where there will be multiple choice within a not-for-profit insurance system."
