A Policy Delphi Survey towards Evidence Based Resource Allocation for Public Healthcare in the Republic of Ireland

Journal of Social Research & Policy, Volume: 8, Issue: 1, pp. 55-71

Date: July 2017

ISSN: 2067-2640 (print), 2068-9861 (electronic)

Abstract: This paper sought to determine the understanding of an expert panel of senior personnel in the Irish public healthcare system on ways of achieving evidence based resource allocation for all components of publicly funded healthcare in the Republic of Ireland. We used a policy Delphi survey to get the opinions of the expert panel and to facilitate consensus building among them. We analysed the data with deLoe method to determine the level and direction of consensus. The panel had high consensus on many of the propositions e.g. the inadequacy of data and data sharing modalities. Furthermore, the panel agreed on the amendment of the Data Protection Act (1988, 2003) to allow obligatory inclusion in healthcare databases of persons in receipt of publicly funded healthcare services. The results demonstrate the disposition of expert panel on the need for a change to an evidence based resource allocation formula, and the feasibility of its implementation.

Keywords: Evidence Based; Public Healthcare; Resource Allocation; Policy Delphi..