asked the Minister for Health if he will give a breakdown of the increased projected cost of the new General Medical Service deal; whether there will be a two tier element to this in view of a recent court decision.
Written Answers. - General Medical Service.
175.
The Deputy will, I am sure, understand that the new GMS contract contains a number of significant entitlements which differ from the terms of the original 1972 GMS contract. Such entitlements include: superannuation, leave entitlement together with an extension of the items of services under the special services listing. It is, therefore, not possible to provide a detailed breakdown of the projected increase in the cost of the new GMS contract at this time.
However, as I have previously stated in the House, the estimated cost of the new GMS contract is £50 million in a full year. This represents an increase of £5 million, approximately, on the latest figures available for 1988 on the cost of GMS doctors' services. I have also mentioned previously that this increased cost is expected to be off-set by a reduction in the cost of drugs and medicines provided under the scheme, through a combination of expected change in the pattern of general practitioner prescribing and the use of the drugs formulary, which should be available shortly to GMS doctors.
I should perhaps also point out that the cost of general practitioner services in the GMS has increased significantly over the last five years, ending 31 December 1987 from £29.680 million in 1983 to £42.213 million in 1987.
Regarding the implications of the recent High Court decision in the Dr. Mary Grehan case, the matter is under review by my Department.