Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)

This will involve a contractual change in terms of how the Department assesses medical card qualification because up until now it was based on means, not on illness. This change will involve contractual discussions with GPs. The GPs represent the front line in the delivery of care, as the Minister for Health, Deputy Reilly, more than anybody else, will be aware. We are talking about the establishment of primary care units and primary care teams, and the GP will be the focus.

If the legislation is to be published in the middle of this year and enacted thereon, surely there must be some form of discussions and contractual changes with GPs in the country to deliver this new service because it will impact on their contracts.

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