Vol. 449 No. 8
37 Miss Harney asked the Minister for Health his views on whether general practitioners are the ideal persons to provide family planning services; and, if so, his views on whether special items on the general medical scheme should be extended to include vasectomies and IUD insertions and that funds should be put into general practitioner education in this regard. [4558/95]
Limerick East): General practitioners are in an ideal position to provide family planning services as part of continuing medical care. The policy agreement for Government provides for the development of family planning services delivered by both general practitioners and family planning clinics and for an expansion of present medical card entitlements to include IUDs and diaphragms.It is my intention to implement this policy as soon as possible and I will shortly be issuing guidelines to health boards and asking them to take the measures necessary to ensure that a comprehensive planning service is available in each health board area.
The extension of the list of special items of service on the GMS to include the services referred to by the Deputy is under review.
My Department provides funding for continuing medical education for general practioners which is provided by local facilities of the Irish College of General Practitioners. Family planning services are included in this education programme. I am, however, prepared to consider improvements in this area in conjunction with the Irish College of General Practitioners.
