Primary Care Services

Thursday, 25 June 2026

Ceisteanna (505)

David Cullinane

Ceist:

505. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost of providing universal primary care services in line with Sláintecare, by service, in tabular form. [48654/26]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Sláintecare set out a long-term vision of a universal health service, with a particular emphasis on strengthening primary and community care and improving access based on need rather than ability to pay.

Over a number of years, my Department and related bodies have considered the potential costs associated with expanding access to primary care services, including general practitioner (GP) services. This work includes analysis undertaken by the ESRI, the Irish Government Economic and Evaluation Service (IGEES), as well as earlier policy work such as the Expert Group on Resource Allocation and Financing of the Health System (2010), the White Paper on Universal Health Insurance (2014), and the Sláintecare Report (2017).

While these studies provide valuable insights into the potential costs of expanding eligibility, it is important to note that it is not possible to provide a definitive costing for the provision of universal primary care to the full population. This reflects the fact that such a reform would involve fundamental changes to the current model of service delivery, including GP contracts, the scope of services to be provided, workforce capacity, and predictive modelling of future patterns of utilisation stemming from demographic shifts.

In line with Sláintecare, the Government is continuing to take a phased approach to improving access and affordability, including expanding eligibility for GP visit cards and reducing out-of-pocket costs for patients, while progressing broader reforms to primary and community care services.

While consideration of any future changes to the eligibility framework to primary care services will need to be made in the context of current healthcare priorities and the budget available, my Department is currently undertaking a Strategic Review of Eligibility, which will consider how current eligibility arrangements align with population needs and will inform future policy development, including in relation to a move towards universal coverage for primary care services.