Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 10 Apr 2001

Vol. 534 No. 3

Written Answers. - Medical Cards.

Paul McGrath

Question:

195 Mr. McGrath asked the Minister for Health and Children the average number of visits per person per annum by elderly medical card holders to their general practitioner; the annual payment to a general practitioner for the provision of this service; the rate of this payment to general practitioners per medical card holders in each of the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10825/01]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Martin)

As the payment system to general practitioners in respect of medical card holders is an annual capitation payment the matter of the number of visits is not recorded. This annual capitation payment system is based on the age and sex of the patients on a doctor's GMS panel. The total amount payable, therefore, to an individual doctor depends on the number, sex and age of these patients on his panel.

The annual payments to general practitioners under the GMS scheme for the provision of this service for the last five years are as per the following table:

	Up to 3 miles			3 to 5 miles			5 to 7 miles			7 to 10 miles			Over 10 miles
Ages	Male	Female	Male	Female	Male	Female	Male	Female	Male	Female
1999
65-69	£61.61	£68.73	£69.14	£76.27	£80.33	£87.45	£91.31	£98.44	£104.97	£112.11
70+	£63.61	£70.95	£71.37	£78.73	£82.93	£90.28	£94.27	£101.63	£108.37	£115.74
1998
65+	£60.7	£67.71	£68.12	£75.14	£79.14	£86.16	£89.96	£96.99	£103.42	£110.45
1997
65+	£55.66	£62.12	£62.47	£68.92	£72.59	£79.03	£82.53	£88.96	£94.85	£101.29
1996
65+	£55.11	£61.50	£61.85	£68.24	£71.87	£78.25	£81.71	£88.08	£93.91	£100.29
1995
65+	£53.50	£59.69	£60.04	£66.24	£69.76	£75.95	£79.31	£85.50	£91.15	£97.35

This information is detailed in the annual general report of the GMS (Payments) Board which is usually printed in July of each year and, accordingly, the figures for 2000 will be available in July 2001.

Question No. 196 answered with Question No. 167.