This chapter provides an assessment of the sustainability of Ireland's health care system. It starts by describing the historical development of the Irish system and identifying key features of the current system that raise potential challenges for sustainability. It then provides an analysis of...

The financial crisis that manifested itself in late 2007 resulted in a Europe-wide economic crisis by 2009. As the economic climate worsened, Governments and households were put under increased strain and more focus was placed on prioritising expenditures. Across European countries and their...

A new Irish government came to power in March 2011 with the most radical proposals for health system reform in the history of the state, including improving access to healthcare, free GP care for all by 2015 and the introduction of Universal Health Insurance after 2016. All this was to be...