The IMO has warned that any attempt to curtail health spending will have a direct, negative impact on patient outcomes.
The Organisation added that the current budget does not take into account the complex reality of treating a growing and ageing population.
The IMO was responding to media reports on HSE plans to introduce new controls on recruitment and spending in the health system after recording a €250 million deficit in the first quarter of the year.
Prof Matthew Sadlier, President of the IMO, said: “It is very disappointing to hear that the HSE plans to introduce controls on recruitment and spending, because funding and staff numbers are already far below what they need to be to deliver an optimal health system.”
“It is clear to anyone working in the system that it cannot run effectively within the budget that has been set, and hence it beggars belief that spending and recruitment will be further curtailed in order to make this numbers game add up.”
He said that it was unacceptable that doctors were being asked to do more with less.
“Doctors and frontline staff need to be protected at all costs, and this kind of announcement will jeopardise their ability to deliver for patients who will see poorer outcomes as a result of these measures.
“The Pay and Numbers Strategy, which was introduced to manage health staff costs, is based on a fiscal argument that is not grounded in the reality of service delivery. If we are to promise a health service that delivers for patients, we must fund it, or else be honest with the public and say what cannot be done within the fiscal restraints.”
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