Vol. 504 No. 4
194 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Health and Children if a person who is awarded a medical card can opt to continue to attend a non-general medical services doctor and still avail of free general practitioner services and free medications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12191/99]
Under the terms of the general medical services scheme, a medical card holder can only attend a doctor who has a general medical services contract and medications prescribed for a medical card holder must be so prescribed by a general medical services scheme doctor.
A recent agreement with the Irish Medical Organisation, effective from 1 March 1999, provides that a person awarded a new medical card can opt to remain with his or her doctor, providing that the doctor concerned meets certain requirements, for example as respects length of practice, and applies to his or her health board for a general medical services scheme contract under the provisions of the agreement.
As a result of these new arrangements, persons awarded medical cards will now, in most cases, be free to remain with their doctor of long standing.
195 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for Health and Children if the additional costs of a medical examination involved in the annual renewal of driving licences for older people will be covered under the general medical card scheme in view of the fact these additional medical costs are causing hardship for many older people who are on small incomes. [12202/99]
The terms of the general medical services contract, which govern the provision of general practitioner services for medical card patients are the subject of negotiation and agreement with the Irish medical organisation. While the terms of the contract include the provision of normal sickness certificates and those examinations carried out prior to the issue of the first and final social welfare certificates, it does not include the issue of other certificates relating to driving licenses, insurance and assurance policies as well as certain certificates related to social welfare schemes. I have no plans to amend the contract in this respect.
