Noel Ahern
Question:97 Mr. N. Ahern asked the Minister for Health and Children if a general practitioner can charge £15 to a patient on a medical card in order to sign an application form for free telephone rental allowance. [17398/97]
Written Answers. - General Medical Services Scheme.
Under the Health Act 1970 health boards are required to make available, without charge, a general practitioner medical and surgical service to persons with full eligibility, that is, medical card holders. In accordance with the provisions of the Act, health boards enter into contracts with general practitioners for the provision of these services under the general medical services (GMS) scheme.
The terms of the general practitioners' contract, which includes a fee schedule for the services provided, are the subject of negotiation and agreement between my Department, the health boards and the Irish Medical Organisation. Fee payments to general practitioners under the GMS scheme comprehend the issuing of normal sickness certificates which are required by an adult or by an infant/child who is a dependent of the adult who is covered by the medical card scheme and those examinations carried out prior to the issue of the first and final social welfare certificates. The issue of other certificates by a general practitioner, for example, those related to driving licences, insurance and assurance policies, or free schemes operated by the Department of Social Welfare, is not comprehended under the GMS doctors' fee schedule.
Neither I, nor the health boards, have any function in relation to charges by general practitioners for services not covered by the GMS scheme. In the specific case of the free telephone rental scheme, the operation of that scheme is, of course, a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Social Welfare.