Tánaiste Joan Burton has criticised some of the models put forward for universal health insurance (UHI)as potentially very expensive.

Ms Burton was speaking as the drift in Government over the roll-out of UHI continued to increase.

She said the Labour Party is fully committed to the plan, though not at any cost.

“I have said we want a better service, but in the context of health insurance we want an affordable health insurance system,” Ms Burton said.

“Some of the models that have been put forward have suggested very high charges potentially for individuals and families. Some of the figures being spoken about would concern me.

“We need to look for a model that is efficient, effective and good value for money.”

UHI is a major commitment in the Programme for Government, but there has been no progress on bringing forward the scheme.

Both Ms Burton and Minister for Health Leo Varadkar have separately cast doubts over the roll-out.

Mr Varadkar said a “big bang approach” was not the right way forward and small steps needed to be taken.

Reilly cornerstone

Within weeks of entering office, Mr Varadkar began playing down introducing the scheme in its current form. It was one of the cornerstones of his predecessor

James Reilly

.

Taoiseach Enda Kenny has insisted he wants the model introduced in full.

Asked if he was watering down previous proposals, Mr Varadkar said: “No, we are modifying them and making them achievable and setting out realistic timeframes.

“One of the things I wanted to do when I took over in health,” he added, “was to start making concrete steps to universal health care, and we see that now with under 6s.”

Private patients

UHI would seek to eliminate Ireland’s two-tier health system by effectively making everyone a private patient. It is officially the Government’s healthcare reform blueprint.

Under a White Paper published by Dr Reilly, the system was to involve a multipayer model of competing private health insurers and a State- owned VHI.

The paper proposed that everyone would be covered for standard services, including GP and hospital treatment.

Mr Varadkar slowed down the introduction of UHI when he took office last summer.

Speaking yesterday, the Minister said making the change in small steps was the best way forward.

“There is a total commitment from both parties that we want to achieve universal health care, a single-tier health service based on need and not on ability to pay. But how we get there needs to be mapped out,” Mr Varadkar said.

“If we learned anything from the last couple of years, even from the difficulties we had getting the over-sixes and the over-70s over the line, it has been quite how difficult making change in health service can be. But we are still committed doing it.”