Brian O'Shea
Ceist:118 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Health and Children the proposals he has to allow all medical general practitioners the option of accepting medical card patients; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4287/01]
Written Answers. - General Medical Services Scheme.
The number of general practitioners holding GMS scheme contracts has increased significantly in recent years from 1,629 in December 1998 to 1,679 in December 1999 to 1,760 at present. A significant factor in accounting for this rise in numbers is a once-off GMS scheme entry measure agreed with the IMO in 1999. It provides that doctors, in practice on 1 March 1999, having or subsequently acquiring appropriate experience and qualifications may, if they wish, obtain GMS scheme contracts. This entry provision remains effective until 1 March 2004, and, accordingly, over the next few years even more doctors will obtain GMS scheme contracts under the measure for the treatment of medical card patients.
Apart from that special provision, health boards continue to advertise existing GMS scheme vacancies as they arise either through retirement, death, etc. In addition, existing GMS scheme principals can take on assistants with a view to GMS scheme partnership.
Health boards have discretion to create new GMS scheme contracts if they consider it necessary in the context of service provision and meeting medical card patients' needs. Having regard to all of the above, and in particular the need to provide a quality based service to medical card patients, I consider the present situation to be satisfactory in terms of entry to the GMS scheme.