Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 30 May 2013
268. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Health the existing legislation or guidelines that permits a general practitioner to levy a charge of €20 for the provision of a prescription; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26298/13]
View answerGeneral Practitioners (GPs) who hold General Medical Services (GMS) contracts with the HSE must not seek or accept money from medical card or GP visit card holders in respect of routine treatment or for the provision of prescriptions. 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 the Minister for Health has no role in relation to such fees, it is expected that clinicians would have regard to the overall economic situation in setting their fees.
