Alan Kelly
Ceist:1044. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Health when he plans to put in a place a new general practitioner contract. [14875/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraTuesday, 14 July 2020
Ceisteanna (1044)
Freagraí scríofa
The existing General Medical Scheme contract has been modernised to a large extent by the agreement reached in 2019 between the Department of Health, the HSE and the IMO on a major package of GP contractual reform and service developments.
The Agreement introduces fees for new services such as the chronic disease management programme and therapeutic phlebotomy for GMS patients with haemochromatosis. It provides for a 10% increase in the rural GP allowance, an increase in the allowance paid to dispensing GPs, and a targeted fund of €2 million to support practices in deprived urban areas. Maternity and paternity leave arrangements have been improved, in recognition of the need to ensure that general practice is compatible with doctors’ family commitments. A wide-ranging set of modernisation measures have also been agreed in the areas such as eHealth and medicines management. In return for cooperation with these service developments and reforms, investment in general practice will increase by approximately 40% (or €210 million) over four years. At the end of 2019 95% GMS GPs (2,374) had accepted the terms of the Agreement.
The Agreement also includes a commitment to undertake a strategic review of GP services within the lifetime of the Agreement, to examine how best to ensure the provision of GP services in Ireland for the future. The outcome of this review will inform future contractual changes. Preparatory work for the review is beginning this year.