Health and Welfare in the republic of IrelAnd
The health services in
Those with low incomes — about a third of the population — and persons aged
70
years and over receive medical services free of charge. The rest of
the population has to pay a low charge when being treated in a public hospital
or for visits to the family doctor.
Patients in public hospitals may choose to be treated privately. There are a number
of private hospitals, some 14 per cent of the total. There is a system of health insurance to help meet the costs
of medical treatment.
Public expenditure on health accounts for around 24 per cent of Government
current spending. The expenditure is
divided between hospitals, community health services, community welfare services,
community protection services, psychiatric services and services for the
handicapped.
The Social Welfare system covers all of the
internationally recognised forms of social protection. Incorporating a mix of
both social insurance and social assistance programmes, it provides financial
support to people in certain situations such as unemployment, illness, old age
or widowhood.
Other features of the system include supports for people seeking employment,
in-work benefits and family support for people at work on low pay, free or
reduced-cost dental and optical care, and a range of secondary benefits such as
free travel for pensioners and financial support towards the cost of fuel, TV
licences and telephone rental charges.
Spending on social welfare accounts for approximately more than one-quarter
(29%) of current
Government expenditure and benefits more than 1.3 million
people.
sources:
Annual report on Welfare in Ireland