Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 24 February 2022
400. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health if he will provide details of the total cost to the HSE of general practitioners providing Covid-19 testing to patients for 2021 and January 2022, by month and by the number of general practitioners or practices who received amounts greater than €10,000, €20,000 and €50,000; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10720/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra402. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health if he will provide details of all Covid-19 assessments carried out by general practitioners by telephone in each of the years 2020 and 2021 and in January 2022, by month and by the number of general practitioners or practices who received amounts greater than €10,000, €20,000 and €50,000; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10722/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 400 and 402 together.
Recognising the key role of general practice in the collective efforts to contain and mitigate the impact of Covid-19 on public health, a number of measures were put in place to support general practice during the pandemic. These measures included the payment of a fee by the HSE to GPs for the provision of remote consultations to patients who may have contracted Covid-19, including referral for testing if clinically required. In return, persons are not subject to any charge for a GP Covid-19 assessment or testing referral.
As the specific information requested relates to a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
