Health budget cuts for 2010

The health budget for 2010 has been set at €14.83 billion, despite expenditure during 2009 being closer to €15.6 billion.

In a surprise move, frontline services will not be affected by the budget cut, as had been expected. Funding for emergency services; charges for private beds in public hospitals; and day, inpatient and long-stay hospital charges will also be exempt from price hikes as part of the budget.

However, the DH hopes to reduce expenditure by over €1 billion, saying €695 million of this will be raised by introducing pay cuts for all health workers and non-salaried health professionals. The rest will be raised through increasing prescription charges, cutting back on dental schemes and drug refunds, and other cuts within the Health Service Executive.

The Health Minister for Ireland has admitted that the cutbacks exceeded “what might be expected in normal economic circumstances”. The move to increase prescription charges for medical cardholders has been met with resistance by doctors and patients, who say it could mean access to medication is denied for low-income patients.

The extra prescription charges will be introduced from 1 April 2010.