PROPOSED SALE OF HOSPITAL LAND A SCANDAL

The Chairman of the Western Regional Health Forum, Cllr Declan Bree, has described the Government proposal to provide public lands at our hospitals for the construction of private hospitals as a ‘scandal’.

“The Government has no mandate for this plan.  It was never put before the people in an election manifesto by either Fianna Fáil or the P.D.’s.    It was not included in the Programme for Government nor was it in the National Health Strategy.” said Cllr Bree.

“Essentially what Mary Harney is proposing to do is give hundreds of millions of euro in tax breaks to profit-seeking speculators and developers, to build for-profit private hospitals.  

“The H.S.E. recently carried out a procurement exercise on behalf of the Government, to select certain consortia to build and operate private hospitals on eight public hospital sites.   These include two hospitals in the Western Region, Sligo General Hospital and University Hospital Galway.
 
“There is huge opposition to the Governments plan.   The Regional Health Forum West, which is representative of every county and city Council from here to Limerick, unanimously adopted a motion condemning the Governments proposal to make public hospital lands available for private hospitals and Sligo County Council has on three occasions over the past 12 months adopted motions opposing the Governments proposals.

“At the recent conference of the Irish Medical Organisation, doctors committed to the public health service, as opposed to those who see health as a source of speculation or profit, questioned Government policy in facilitating private hospitals with generous tax breaks and other concessions.

”Currently the Government pays nearly €40 million for every €22 million invested in private hospitals through the tax incentive schemes for private hospitals, achieving no share and no control.” Cllr Bree said.

“This plan will not only pour money into the pockets of millionaires at the expense of ordinary tax-payers and public hospital patients and staff alike, it will also further institutionalise the two-tier health system.

“Mary Harney and the Government now seem determined to force this plan through and enter into binding agreements and contracts with the developers in advance of the general election.

“It should be obvious to everyone that the provision of lands at public hospitals for the use of the private sector is part of a deliberate policy of privatisation of health and other public services, driven by greed, corporate globalisation and neoliberalism.

“If we are to avoid the American experience of healthcare being bought and sold as a commodity, then we must oppose these proposals to provide public hospital lands for private hospital developments.” said Cllr Bree.