John Halligan (Waterford, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I have been informed that competition law precludes the standardisation of GP fees. Am I correct in saying that? If that is the case, are we in a situation that, two years into the Government’s term of office and with all the cutbacks suffered by every other worker, someone can charge €50 or €60 for a three-minute consultation? I refer again to people who are just above the medical card threshold who are barely earning the minimum wage. How could it be justifiable that they would pay almost a third of their wages to go to a GP and then to a pharmacist for medicine when GPs, medicines and pharmaceutical outlays are cheaper all across Europe? It is immoral in the current economic circumstances that someone would charge such fees. Some friends of mine are doctors and I make it clear to them that I find it unacceptable that even as we speak some doctors still charge €60 in consultation fees. That is immoral and offensive for those who cannot afford to pay it.

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