Vol. 515 No. 5
68 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Health and Children if he will agree terms and conditions for the participation of general practitioners in the pilot cervical screening programme in order to avoid a significant delay in the introduction of the initiative. [6492/00]
Negotiations are currently under way between the Irish Medical Organisation and health service management, under the aegis of the health service employers' agency, in relation to the fee to be paid to GPs involved in taking smears. I am hopeful that these negotiations can be concluded in the near future so as to avoid any undue delay in implementing phase 1 of the national cervical screening programme which is due to commence mid-year in the Mid Western Health Board.
