Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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Question 192: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the reason medical card holders are obliged to pay a charge for blood tests; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4671/07]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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The vast majority of General Practitioners (GPs) providing services to General Medical Services (GMS) patients hold the GMS GP capitation contract. These contracts for service are with the Health Service Executive (HSE). In accordance with the contract the GP receives an annual fee from the HSE which is based on the number of patients on his/her GMS patient panel and the GP undertakes to provide all proper and necessary treatment of a kind generally undertaken by a GP to these patients. Accordingly, under this contract a GP should not demand or accept any payment or consideration for services provided by him/her, including blood tests, where they are indicated as part of a recognised treatment of an ongoing medical condition of a patient.

If the Deputy is aware of a particular case where a person is experiencing any difficulty, I suggest he should bring the matter to the attention of the Health Service Executive who will investigate the matter. I would also be happy to facilitate the Deputy in raising the case with the HSE.