John Deasy
Ceist:143 Mr. Deasy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the details of the 2001 derogation within the GMS scheme for doctors taking on patients over 70 years of age. [15052/05]
Amharc ar fhreagraTuesday, 10 May 2005
Ceisteanna (96, 97)
John Deasy
Ceist:144 Mr. Deasy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children her views on doctors who set up practices and are prevented from acquiring a GMS contract, including those who hold a certificate of specific training in general medical practice issued by the Irish Medical Council; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15053/05]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 143 and 144 together.
Entry to the general medical services, GMS, scheme for general practitioners is normally through open competition and interview following advertisements in national and medical newspapers. All suitably qualified persons may apply for these positions. The Health Act 2004 provided for the Health Service Executive, which was established on 1 January 2005. Under the Act, the executive has the responsibility to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. This includes responsibility for the selection and recruitment of general practitioners to provide services under the GMS scheme.
Applicants for GMS general practitioner contracts, whether from this or another jurisdiction, must satisfy the provisions of EU Directive 93/16/EEC. This directive facilitates the free movement of doctors and the mutual recognition of their diplomas, certificates and other evidence of formal qualifications. It also stipulates the requirement in respect of vocational training for persons seeking to be considered for such posts.
As part of industrial relations agreements between the Department of Health and Children and the Irish Medical Organisation, IMO, made in 1999 and again in 2001 between the health services employers agency and the IMO, limited entry to the GMS scheme was possible for suitably qualified general practitioners. These agreements allowed for those general practitioners who were interested and qualified to hold limited GMS contracts. These limited GMS contracts allowed general practitioners to treat their over 70s patients who qualified for a medical card for the first time, following the phased increase in the income level for eligibility assessment in 1999, and again following the introduction of the statutory entitlement to a medical card for all persons aged 70 years and over from 1 July 2001. After specified periods general practitioners holding these limited contracts would become eligible for full GMS contracts and be able to provide services to any medical card patient who might choose to be included on their patient panel list.