Vol. 418 No. 4
140 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Health if he will make a statement on a recent claim by a person (details supplied) that the fees charged by GPs will have to be increased dramatically over the next few years if doctors are to earn a profit and that fees for a visit to a doctor's surgery could increase to £25 per visit; and if he will have discussions with the Irish Medical Organisation to eliminate this threat to the public's access to general medical care.
I am aware of the statement to which the Deputy refers. Section 58 of the Health Act, 1970, requires each health board to make available without charge a general practitioner medical and surgical service for persons with full eligibility.
The review of the General Medical Service scheme, which is being conducted at present under the chairmanship of Professor Tom Murphy, will comprehend such matters as remuneration for services rendered by general practitioners who are contracted to provide them.
The Irish Medical Organisation is the body which represents the interests of general practitioners and in view of the stated commitment of both sides to the review process, I am hopeful that there will be no threat to access, by medical card holders, to a general practitioners service.
I have no function in determining the level of fees charged by general practitioners to patients who are not covered by the medical card scheme.
