A member of the Sláintecare Implementation Advisory Council has warned that Sláintecare is "in serious trouble without a refreshing of commitment and actions" from the Government in the wake of two high-profile resignations.
Liam Doran said the council will meet Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly tomorrow to reassess where the council is at, following the departure of Professor Tom Keane and Laura Magahy from their roles.
He said they will seek reassurance that continuing on the council is a worthwhile exercise.
Speaking on RTÉ's Morning Ireland, Mr Doran said that "for them to fold their tent and walk away tells us that something is seriously amiss".
He said there are questions about the political and managerial commitment to progressing Sláintecare and said "actions rather than words are needed".
Mr Doran said the "first slippage on the road to Sláintecare' was when the political decision was made not to base the office in the Department of the Taoiseach.
He said that this was "a constant irritant and sore" for council members, who felt they were not central in decision-making and it devalued the role of the council and what it is trying to achieve.
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He said the council's role is to advise on the implementation of Sláintecare and has found increasingly "it is not being invited to input our advice into it".
He said decisions on pivotal issues including GP contracts, how to recruit, the need to expand elective ability, managing chronic disease in the community were all central to the objectives of Sláintecare, and yet "we weren't really being brought around that process and was an increasing source of frustration".
