Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 31 January 2023
664. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Health if there is an agreed and prescribed schedule of fees to which general practitioners must adhere; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4175/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraGPs are private practitioners, most of whom hold a GMS (General Medical Services) contract with the HSE to provide services without charge to patients who hold a medical card or a GP visit card.
Under the terms of the current GMS contract, GPs are required to provide eligible patients with ''all proper and necessary treatment of a kind usually undertaken by a general practitioner and not requiring special skill or experience of a degree or kind which general practitioners cannot reasonably be expected to possess". Persons who hold a medical card or a GP visit card are not subject to any co-payments or other charges in respect of such services including GP consultations.
Any fees charged by GPs for services provided outside the terms of the GMS contract, or other publicly funded GP held contracts, are a matter of private contract between the GP and their patient.
