A plan for the health service should be "people centred" and based on the best interests and needs of the individual, the Minister for Health and Children, Mr Martin told a conference yesterday.
The Minister was addressing the first National Health Strategy Consultative Forum in Dublin.
It was attended by representatives of the health services, health professionals, staff groups, management and patient/client advocacy groups.
The new health strategy aims to reform and modernise the health and personal social services over the next five to seven years. The public and other interested parties are also being consulted. Mr Martin said the strategy was concerned with improving the health status of the population. This meant looking beyond the traditional view of the services to the full range of intersectoral issues which affected our health. They needed to develop a system which was "people-centred".
"This may mean changing the way we deliver services at present.
"It also means giving clear information to the public about their entitlements and, for professionals, a greater openness in their dealings generally with patients or clients. I am also keen that there should be a greater involvement by the consumer in the planning and delivery of services," he said.
The system also needed to be accessible, well-organised and well-monitored to ensure standards of best practice were constantly being striven for and achieved.
The Minister said the Government accepted that an examination of funding methods and levels would be an intrinsic element in developing an agenda. He had indicated to the Government that a new strategy would be produced mid-year. This was an ambitious target but he believed it could be achieved.
He believed they could all make plans for a health system they could trust, which was there when it was needed and which made a real contribution to reducing inequalities in health status.