Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 224: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if, in view of the extreme hardships that will be faced by low and middle income earners as a result of the budgetary measures, and in view of mounting evidence that persons are already avoiding needed medical treatment due to cost, she will move to control general practitioners fees; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47937/10]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Independent)
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Consultation fees charged to private patients by General Practitioners (GPs) are a matter of private contract between the doctor and the patient. While I have no role in relation to such fees, I would expect GPs to have regard to the overall economic situation in setting their fees. My colleague the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Innovation has also called on providers of professional services in the private sector to adjust their fees in line with the reductions in fees of those providing such services in the public sector.

The Medical Council's Guide to Professional Conduct and Ethics for Registered Medical Practitioners states that the fees charged should be appropriate to the service provided and that patients should be informed of the likely costs before the consultation and treatment. GPs who hold a General Medical Services contract with the Health Service Executive must not seek or accept money from medical card or GP visit card holders in respect of routine treatment. On 1st November 2010, 1,712,929 persons had access to free GP services (1,598,823 medical card holders and 114,106 GP visit card holders).