A ban on private care in public hospitals could cost the state 6.5 billion euro and take 10 years to implement.

The report by an Independent Review Group was established by the Health Minister to look at private care in public hospitals.

8 recommendations have been put forward in this report.

It includes legislation to ensure that public hospitals are exclusively used for treating public patients, and any doctors treating private patients should have their contracts changed and receive a contract change payment.

The report also says new consultants should be offered public patient contracts only.

The report says in the short term the cost of insurance should fall.

However its likely that the number of people buying insurance will drop, which could result in higher costs long term for people retaining cover.