General Medical Services Scheme

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 7 October 2010

Thursday, 7 October 2010

Questions (116, 117)

Thomas Byrne

Question:

114 Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Health and Children if the provision of a drug (details supplied) is covered on the medical card scheme. [35587/10]

Written answers

Minister for Health and Children (Deputy Mary Harney)

I can confirm that methadone prescribed for pain relief is available under the General Medical Services scheme.

Finian McGrath

Question:

115 Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health and Children if she will support a matter (details supplied). [35596/10]

Minister for Health and Children (Deputy Mary Harney)

The contract between the Health Service Executive (HSE) and general practitioners (GPs) under the General Medical Services (GMS) Scheme stipulates that fees are not paid to GPs by the HSE in respect of certain medical certificates which may be required, for example, "under the Social Welfare Acts or for the purposes of insurance or assurance policies or for the issue of driving licences".

Consultation fees charged by general practitioners to private patients and to GMS patients outside the terms of the GMS contract are a matter of private contract between the clinicians and the patients. While I have no role in relation to such fees, I would expect clinicians to have regard to the overall economic situation in setting their fees.