Michael Lowry (Tipperary, Independent) | Oireachtas source

The scenario in Templemore is being replicated throughout rural Ireland. The entire system must be examined as a matter of urgency. Attracting GPs to sole practices in rural areas has been a problem for a very long time. The problem is growing and will continue to grow. We must lift the excessive restrictions on qualified doctors from countries outside Europe who are willing to practice in Ireland. Incentives must be put in place to make rural practices more attractive to GPs to avert a pending crisis. As far back as 2015, the Irish College of General Practitioners stated that if measures were not introduced to support rural practices, further inequality of access to healthcare among rural populations would result. This warning was ignored. Templemore is just one example of the fall-out from that lack of policy.

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