Cutbacks in health have had a greater impact on Irish people than cuts in other areas such as social welfare, education and transport, according to the 2014 Pfizer Health Index.

The annual index is based on the findings of a survey of just over 1,000 adults in Ireland. This year's survey focused on the effect austerity measures have had on people's health.

It found that when asked to rate their own health, the average score provided was almost eight out of 10. Furthermore, the number of adults smoking has fallen from 33% in 2012 to 25% this year.

However, the survey also found that more than half (53%) of people believe health is the area in which cutbacks have had the biggest effect. Furthermore, since 2010, the proportion of adults with private health insurance has fallen from 44% to the current figure of 33%.

At the same time, around 1.4 million people now have medical cards, down from a high of 1.6 million in 2012. This means that the number of people with neither health insurance or a medical card has risen from 23% in 2011 to 31% in 2014.

The survey also found that almost half (47%) of adults are strongly in favour of the proposal to extend free GP care to all children under the age of six, however 12% are against or strongly against the proposal.

Meanwhile, almost three in four people feel that families with young children have been negatively impacted by recent austerity budgets, with one in three feeling they have been the hardest hit.

After young families, older people were seen as the group most harshly hit by austerity.

Commenting on the findings, Prof Charles Normand of Trinity College Dublin, pointed out that while austerity has achieved some positive results, such as cost reductions and greater efficiencies in the health service, there are concerns ahead.

"We need to recognise the enormous reduction in the health budget and really this level of reduction is not sustainable any more without great impact on the health and social services. The growth in the population with neither private medical insurance nor a medical card is a key concern and shows that we do need to think about alternative models of healthcare provision such as universal healthcare," he said.

Also commenting on the findings, Dr Anne Nolan of Trinity's Irish LongituDinal study on Ageing (TILDA), insisted that recent austerity budgets had led to ‘huge challenges' for the public health system, as a result of fewer resources.

"At the same time, the public health system is expected to meet the demands of an ageing population with increased levels of chronic disease. This is reflected in public concern about cutbacks to the public health system and increasing support for the provision of universal healthcare," she noted.

She added that while the fall in smoking rates was to be welcomed, recent evidence suggests that problem drinking has increased during the recession, and people are not exercising enough.

"To ensure the future sustainability of our public health system, a greater focus on health promotion and prevention will be required," she said.

Meanwhile, the index also showed that despite signs of an economic recovery, almost seven in 10 people are still finding it difficult to make ends meet. Furthermore, eight in 10 people believe their current level of disposable income is unlikely to improve this year.