Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)
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Question 285: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the proposals she has to re-negotiate the arrangements agreed between her Department and the Irish Medical Association; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24657/05]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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General practitioners who choose to participate in the general medical services, GMS, scheme hold contracts with the Health Service Executive to provide services for the eligible patients on their GMS patient panel. Any person, regardless of age, who wishes to be assessed as eligible for a medical card must apply to the Health Service Executive. They must choose a doctor with whom they wish to be registered. If the doctor agrees and the assessment deems the applicant eligible to receive services under the GMS scheme, a medical card will be issued.

In the case of persons who were previously private patients of solely private doctors, if they wish to avail of the benefits of being medical card holders, a benefit to which they are statutorily entitled upon reaching the age of 70, they must choose an alternative doctor from among those who hold GMS contracts with the Health Service Executive. Certain qualification criteria apply for GMS general practitioners. These include to have successfully completed a recognised general practitioner vocational training programme or have acquired rights under an EU directive. It should also be noted that general practitioners may choose not to join the GMS scheme.