asked the Minister for Health if the status of district medical officers under new health administration has been finally defined; and, if so, if he will indicate what exactly it is.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - District Medical Officers.
7.
After the new general medical service has come into operation in an area, there will normally be no further appointments of district medical officers in that area. Instead contracts will be made with medical practitioners who participate in the new service. Eventually, the only participants in the new service with the status of office-holders will be those in remote areas where salaried medical officers will still be needed.
However, guarantees as respects the status of persons now holding the office of district medical officer have been negotiated with the medical organisations. Within the new service, any permanent district medical officer who held office before 1st September, 1967, will remain an officer of the health board and as such will continue to receive his salary and to benefit from his present leave conditions and superannuation provisions. A similar guarantee will apply for at least 2½ years to temporary district medical officers and to any permanent appointments made since 1st September, 1967, where the holder of the office is practising outside a town of 5,000 population or more.
Can the Minister say if he is now agreed with the medical profession in regard to the payment of fees for participation in the medical service?
Negotiations are still proceeding and I am waiting to hear from the Irish Medical Association and the Irish Medical Union the result of their deliberations. They are asking for the views of all their members and I expect to receive these views in the course of the next two months.
Does the Minister expect to have these views and reach agreement on them in time to implement the new Health Act?
That is impossible to say; I must await their final decision on the offer made to them.