Prime Time - 08-02-2011 - Healthcare

Sulmac

Healthy Choices - tonight it’s the future of our healthcare system.

Our healthcare system has always played a serious part in previous election campaigns and while jobs and the economy are probably higher priorities with voters this time round, the plans to reform healthcare in this country still form a critical part of the election agenda for all parties.

On Prime Time tonight, the three main parties set out their stalls on how they will deal with healthcare. How realistic, affordable and strong on detail they are will be teased out by Richard Crowley in the company of Barry Andrews (FF), James Reilly(FG) and Jan O‘Sullivan (Lab).

This will be followed by Prime Time’s unique approach for Election 2011 for checking in with you, the voters - by travelling with reporter Adrian Lydon on the Vote Boat down the Shannon where he'll be speaking to young GAA players who talk of the lack of work which is forcing emigration and Leitrim farmers who say they will vote for “anybody but Fianna Fail”.

Prime Time

Should be interesting, especially considering that Fine Gael and Labour have almost identical policies. They both support universal health insurance based on the Dutch model (generally), while Fianna Fáil seem to support the status quo - calling the opposition's model 'privatisation' (a bit rich from the party of co-location) of the system which suggests they don't fully understand what exactly is being proposed.

Fine Gael - FairCare Policy Document
Labour - Fair Health Care Policy Document
Fianna Fáil don't have a health policy document but their manifesto can be found here.

moondance1

I like the idea that Fine Gael and Labour are considering allowing recruitment of front line staff in the health service, it's about time.

Thought the reports along the Shannon were good too.