THE Minister for Health has said he will set up an independent complaints body for the VHI if he finds it necessary. Mr Noonan told the House he would monitor the situation over the coming year.

Speaking on the Voluntary Health Insurance Amendment Bill, he reminded subscribers that if they were dissatisfied with the service they could resort to the Insurance Ombudsman or disputes could be referred to arbitration.

He was responding to a Fianna Fail amendment which proposed the establishment of an independent seven member VIII users' commission.