asked the Minister for Health the estimated number of doctors who will participate in the choice of doctor scheme following the abolition of the dispensary system.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Choice of Doctor Scheme.
5.
Doctors in general practice will be invited to enter into agreements with the health boards to provide services under the "choice of doctor" scheme. I could not estimate at this stage how many doctors might participate.
I might add that there are about 1,200 doctors in general practice in this country.
If the Minister cannot estimate how many doctors are likely to participate, how is he able to arrive at a figure of £7¾ million as being the cost of the introduction of the choice of doctor scheme?
By simply making certain assumptions in regard to the number of doctors who would take part, in regard to the number of services they would perform per day, in regard to the number of services they would perform per patient in their areas. It is all worked out on a basis of assumption.
Would the Minister say how many doctors did he assume would participate?
I cannot remember that figure. The Deputy will have to ask another question about that.
That was my question today.
Questions Nos. 6 and 7 postponed.