Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 6 Dec 2001

Vol. 546 No. 1

Written Answers. - General Medical Services Scheme.

Nora Owen

Question:

106 Mrs. Owen asked the Minister for Health and Children when the procedures relating to the over 70's medical card scheme introduced on 1 July 2001, will be fully completed; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that no payments have been made to doctors with this category of patient and nor can persons over 70 years who are attending a doctor not on the GMS scheme seek a refund from their doctor for payments made since 1 July 2001 in view of the fact that those doctors have not been paid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31228/01]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Martin)

Negotiations with the Irish Medical Organisation and the Irish Pharmaceutical Union on this subject were concluded some months ago. My Department has checked with the GMS Payments Board in respect of payments for doctors dealing with this category of patient and has been assured that doctors who have satisfied the criteria for entry to the scheme and have been approved by the relevant health boards have been paid for their services. There remains a number of doctors whose applications had to be referred to the competent medical authority for certification and they await payment. However, in an effort to expedite this process officials from my Department have arranged to meet with the parties tomorrow.

The Irish Medical Organisation advised its members in July 2001 not to charge patients aged 70 years and over for services to which they are entitled under the GMS scheme. Doctors should arrange to refund these patients any moneys which have been paid to them.

Nora Owen

Question:

107 Mrs. Owen asked the Minister for Health and Children if his attention has been drawn to the fact that doctors in the GMS scheme have not received payment for flu vaccinations in 2000 or for meningitis vaccinations carried over the past 18 months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31229/01]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Martin)

I am not aware of any circumstances where doctors in the GMS scheme have not received payment for influenza or meningococcal C vaccinations. Payments in respect of immunisations administered by general practitioners are either paid through the GMS Payments Board or directly to the general practitioner by the relevant health board-authority. If a general practitioner has any query on influenza or meningococcal C payments, it should be brought to the attention of the appropriate health board-authority in the first instance.