Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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Question 538: To ask the Minister for Health with regard to medical cards and the way doctors and patients are assigned to each other, his plans to de-regulate or change the present system; his views on same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17610/11]

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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There are currently almost 2,300 GPs contracted by the HSE under the General Medical Services (GMS) Scheme to provide services to medical card and GP visit card patients. Under this Scheme patients can select a GP in their locality who is on the HSE's list of GMS GPs. If a medical card or GP visit card holder is unsuccessful in being accepted on to a GP's patient list, the HSE can assign the eligible patient to a GMS GP in the locality.

The EU/IMF Programme of Financial Support provides for the introduction of legislation to remove restrictions on GPs wishing to treat public patients under the GMS Scheme. My colleague, the Minister for Health, will bring a Memorandum to Government this week on proposals for legislation to set the terms of access for suitably qualified GPs to GMS contracts. This proposed legislation will result in medical card and GP visit card patients having a greater choice of GPs under the GMS Scheme. It will also help to ensure that private patients of new GP contract holders, who qualify for a medical card or GP visit card, will not have to change their GP. I hope to be in a position to make an announcement in the near future as to how this will be implemented.