Alex White (Dublin South, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I thank Senator Healy Eames for raising this issue. The Government's vision for primary care is the development of a single-tier system where access is based on medical need and not on ability to pay. The Government, therefore, committed to introducing a universal GP service without fees, on a phased basis, within its term of office. The orientation of health systems towards primary health care and general practice has advantages in terms of better population outcomes, improved equity, access, continuity of care and lower cost.

As announced in the budget, the Government has decided to commence the roll-out of universal GP services by providing all children under 6 years of age with access to a GP service without fees. The decision to commence the roll-out with this age cohort is in accordance with the recommendation in Right from the Start, the report of the expert advisory group on the early years strategy. Universal screening and surveillance services are already made available for children in this age cohort. Evidence suggests that a high-quality primary care system with universal access will achieve better outcomes for young children. The Government is providing new, additional funding of €37 million to meet the cost of this measure. The implementation of this measure will require primary legislation which is expected to be published within days. The necessary administrative arrangements will be made when the specifics of the legislation are published.

The introduction of this service also requires a new contractual framework to be put in place between the HSE and individual general practitioners. In this regard, I emphasise that a draft contract is currently the subject of a consultation process. In excess of 280 responses were received by the HSE during the consultation process. These responses are currently being examined and a report will be published in due course. While there has been some negative reaction to the draft contract, I am pleased that the Irish Medical Organisation, the primary representative body for general practitioners, has confirmed that it is supportive of Government policy to introduce GP care free at the point of access, albeit conditional on the provision of adequate resources and full and meaningful negotiations with the IMO. I welcome this response and I have assured the IMO most recently in my letter dated 26 March, that the Department and the HSE are fully prepared to engage meaningfully with it and are prepared to negotiate with it on all aspects of the scope and content of the proposed contract. I have also explained to the IMO that there will be an opportunity for its input on the fee structure which will be addressed by means of a complementary consultation process. However, the ultimate setting of fees must remain a matter for the Minister for Health.

I trust that the IMO will accept my invitation to commence negotiations with the Department and the HSE. This will afford the IMO the fullest opportunity to obtain clarification from the Department and the HSE on any aspect of the draft contract and to raise any other issues which it may have regarding it. I am confident that a process of open discussion as advocated by the Senator has the potential to significantly enhance the draft contract for patients, general practitioners, the HSE, the Department and the people of Ireland, thus helping to progress our common goal of free GP care at the point of access.