private vhi has been growing over the years but still only accounts for of health financing converging with the eu average the total number of inpatient hospital beds has declined partly due to an increase in day surgery and the bolstering of the longterm care network there has also been a decrease in the number of psychiatric beds by promoting mental health patients integration into their communities secondary and tertiary care is mainly provided in hospitals although some primary care centres employ specialists who provide specialist ambulatory or outpatient services dental consultations diagnostic services renal dialysis and rehabilitation are most commonly provided in the private sector