Motion no: 37
Conference, noting the following: the ratification, by Government, of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, which recognises the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health, the severe, unprecedented and unsustainable contraction of the public health service due to four successive years of financial cutbacks; the long term harm that is being done by the implementation, again over four successive years, of the crude weapon of a recruitment moratorium which is resulting in dangerous staffing levels and inappropriate skill mix settings; the continued contraction of the public health service which now sees almost 2,500 public beds, either acute or continuing care, closed on a long term basis; and the stated Government policy to implement a single tiered health system funded through a health insurance model; calls upon Congress to pursue the following: the immediate establishment of a health summit which would review, as a matter of urgency, the level of funding, of core health services, in this country as compared to other countries in the OECD in order to establish a true picture with regard to the country's expenditure on health care; a transparent and published review of the costs of drugs, to the Irish public health service, as compared to other countries; and that all measures taken by Congress, in defence of the country's public health service, should be designed to ensure: the provision of safe care to patients and clients; -the protection of employment both permanent and temporary; -the maintenance of existing terms and conditions of employment for all health service staff; and the commencement of a public campaign directed at reminding the general public of the essential social good arising from access, for all citizens, to a quality assured public health service.
