Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 89: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the reason a doctor on reaching the age of retirement should be prevented from continuing public practice, while being allowed to continue their private practice; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8108/09]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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Under the General Medical Services (GMS) Scheme general practitioners hold one of two contract types, i.e. the Fee per Item contract (first introduced in 1972) or the Capitation contract (effective from 1989). These contracts reflect the agreed outcome of negotiations between my Department and the GP representative body, the Irish Medical Organisation. Both contract types contain provisions relating to the retirement age. The Capitation contract provides that GPs who entered into contracts on the date of its commencement could hold the contract up to age 70 and that all subsequent GP contractors could hold the contract up to age 65. The Fee per Item contract terminates upon the GP reaching 70 years of age.

General Practitioners being self-employed contractors may, subject to continued registration with the Medical Council, continue to practise and to treat private patients following retirement from the GMS Scheme. In the context of a review of the contractual arrangements for the provision of services under the GMS Scheme and other publicly funded schemes, I have asked my Department, in conjunction with the HSE, to examine provisions relating to the age at which GPs must cease to hold contracts.