Some 75,000 people have been treated under the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) since its inception in 2002, it was revealed today.
Announcing the NTPF's annual report today, Minister for Health Mary Harney said waiting times for the most common surgical procedures have been slashed from two to five years in 2002 to two to five months in 2006.
The most common procedures last year included hip and knee replacements, cataract surgery and tonsil extraction. The NTPF has provided operations in every specialty area, with the largest number in ear, nose and throat (9,536), followed by ophthalmology (8,481) and general surgery (8064).
"The NTPF has continued its important work in reducing waiting times for public patients," Ms Harney said. "The continued co-operation of public hospitals throughout the country remains a key factor in ensuring that we achieve results for public patients throughout the country."
The NTPF plans to treat 27,500 inpatients and outpatients this year and continue to cut waiting times.
Some 95 per cent of all of patients are treated within the State under the NTPF, mainly in private hospitals.