Vol. 421 No. 5
11 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Health if he will outline whether the 1992 budget provided for the operation of the general medical service scheme is sufficient to meet the demand forecasted for services for the full year; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
86 Mr. Boylan asked the Minister for Health whether the budget provided in 1992 for the operation of the general medical services scheme is sufficient to meet the forecast demand for services for the full year; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I propose to take Questions 11 and 86 together. The provision made in the 1992 book of Estimates takes account of the increased cost of the GMS scheme and the financial cost of the recommendations of the GMS Review Group which reported in early 1991. My Department is closely monitoring the monthly expenditure patterns in the scheme. While I am concerned about the continuing upward trend in prescribing costs and recognise that a continuation of this trend would lead to an overrun by the end of the year, I am pleased that constructive discussions are taking place in the GMS Review to reduce this problem.
