THE need to protect a fund which helps Islanders afford the cost of seeing a doctor has been highlighted by the representative body for Jersey GPs.
Discussions have taken place between ministers regarding the Health Insurance Fund, which is funded via social security contributions and provides subsidised access for GP appointments as well as free prescriptions.
Health Minister Tom Binet told the JEP last Saturday that he believed there was a political appetite to rationalise both the Health Insurance and Long-Term Care funds as part of work to provide a solution for how healthcare will be funded in the future.
The potential switch could see responsibility for the Health Insurance Fund switch to the Health Department in exchange for returning money currently spent by Health on long-term care to the Social Security Department, while Senator Binet said this could lead to the return of charges for prescriptions as a way of meeting the rising costs of healthcare for the Island’s ageing population.
Dr Maitiú Ó Tuathail, speaking on behalf of the Primary Care Body which represents GPs, highlighted the importance of the fund.
“Should the Health Insurance Fund be transferred from social security to health, it is vitally important that the fund is protected to ensure it continues to serve the purpose for which it was created, to ensure people can afford primary healthcare while providing a sustainable way to fund essential community-based services,” he said.
“The Health Insurance Fund is largely achieving its aim, and we cannot allow it to be incorporated into the overall health budget at the cost of primary care.”
Dr Ó Tuathail added: “If we look across the water to our UK counterparts, general practice there is on its knees – here in Jersey we have a service that continues to function and serve the needs of our population and that needs to be supported and protected.”
Senator Binet said he believed prescripiton fees were among the charges that could be considered as a way of bringing greater efficiency to healthcare, and praised the way primary care was carried out in Jersey.
“I think we’ve got a very good primary care system,” he said. “I don’t struggle at all with the fact they are private businesses – think that make them more efficient.
Dr Ó Tuathail said: “Senator Binet has been very supportive of general practice to date, and the Primary Care Body looks forward to constructively engaging with him over health funding into the future.”
