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Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 19 Feb 2002

Vol. 548 No. 5

Written Answers. - Medical Cards.

Seán Haughey

Question:

266 Mr. Haughey asked the Minister for Health and Children if he will put arrangements in place to allow the over 70's who now have medical cards, continue to attend their general practitioners free of charge although these doctors may not be part of the general medical scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5497/02]

With effect from 1 July last persons aged 70 years and over have had an automatic entitlement to full eligibility under the Health Acts. No difficulties have arisen in cases where a person with automatic eligibility was already attending a general practitioner who holds a GMS contract. Where the general practitioner does not already hold a GMS contract, arrangements were agreed between my Department and the Irish Medical Organisation for the issuing of a limited GMS contract in respect of this group of patients. However, it is a matter of personal choice on the part of the general practitioner concerned whether he or she decides to apply for a GMS contract. If the general practitioner decides not to opt for such a contract, and my Department is not aware of any such cases, then the patient will have to select a general practitioner who holds, or is in the process of acquiring, a GMS contract.

There has been a delay in the actual issuing of contracts to a number of doctors; this arose because of the necessity to ensure that all of the qualifications of the applying doctors meet the requirements in regard to training as specified under the GMS contract. In this regard, and in an attempt to expedite the process, officials from my Department met with the Irish College of General Practitioners and the Medical Council and, as a result, an agreed tentative proposal went before the council at their meeting recently. Their decision is awaited.
An interim contract is being prepared at present which will provide a payment mechanism for those doctors who do not currently hold a GMS contract but who have been providing general practitioner services free of charge to their patients since 1 July 2001. This interim procedure is separate from any decision regarding the formal awarding of a GMS contract.
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