New ESRI research, funded by the Department of Health, estimates the annual cost of extending free GP care to the half of our population (56%) not covered by a medical or GP visit card to be between €381m and €881m.
A move to free or low-cost primary healthcare for all would overwhelmingly benefit full-time workers earning above a low wage and would bring Ireland into line with the rest of Europe in treating people on the basis of health need, not their income.
A 2022 ICTU working paper, as part of our engagement with the Government, under the social partner LEEF, in advance of Budget 23, shows workers in Ireland to be spending more of their wages providing for their own healthcare than workers across the EU, pushing up their cost of living.
Healthcare costs for workers (LEEF WP)(ICTU).pdf
Establishing and resourcing a universal single-tier healthcare system with services that are free at the point of access is both economically responsible and morally imperative.
