The health system in the Republic of Ireland is financed through a combination of public and private funds. The Health Services Executive manages the public services, largely funded through the national budget.
Although the government substantially funds the Irish health system, user fees and copayments are still a feature of the system. Various mechanisms are in place to prevent catastrophic health expenditure. These include among others :
- Medical cards; available for people living in poverty vulnerable populations.
- Fee waivers at public health services; for certain populations including pregnant mothers and the elderly.
- Drugs payment scheme; capping monthly cost of pharmaceuticals per household.
Progress continues to be made to address ongoing challenges such as hospital overcrowding.
