Ireland’s health care system faces a number of challenges namely that of access to services, inequity and sustainability. Recently universal health insurance has been a central issue in political debate. The IMO paper lays out the principles that should form the backbone of a chosen system of universal health care regardless of the model of funding as follows:

• Universality - Access to adequate healthcare for all
• Services that are free at the point of access
• Equity of access
• Solidarity
• Transparency
• Quality of care and value for money
• Choice and mobility
• Clinical autonomy
• Efficiency
• Affordability
• Sustainability.