Vol. 567 No. 1
332 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Health and Children the steps he has taken to get IMO general practitioners to reconsider their decision to withdraw from the primary care strategy steering group; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13581/03]
While I have not received any formal communication from the Irish Medical Organisation in the matter, I was disappointed to learn recently that the organisation had signalled its intention to withdraw from the national primary care steering group. This group was established to facilitate all of the partner interests contributing to the development of national primary care policy, as the strategy is rolled out. I regret this decision and, when I addressed the organisation's annual general meeting recently, I asked the IMO to reconsider its position on this issue.
The approach adopted in the strategy, Primary Care: A New Direction, is that it should not be imposed from above. Leadership in its adoption and operation must come, not just from central government or the statutory health agencies, but also from the national organisations representing the key professional interests involved. Clearly, the medical profession, and in particular general practitioners, are key stakeholders in this regard.
It is my hope that the IMO will reconsider its intention to withdraw from the primary care steering group so that it can continue to contribute to the work of this group in guiding the implementation of the primary care strategy.
